What aspects of nursing care are important to patients on a heart and lung transplant waiting list?

Solid organ transplantation provides a viable therapeutic option for many patients, with survival rates for heart transplantation reported as 85% at 1 year and 75% at 5 years ¹ and lung transplantation as 80% at 1 year and 50% at 5 years ². The waiting time for a transplant varies between individuals, ranging from 1 day to more than 2 years. The longer a patient waits for a suitable donor organ, the more likely their condition will deteriorate. This study explored participants' experiences of nursing care while they were on the heart and/or lung transplant waiting list and how they believed their care needs were met. This study was part-funded by the Transplant Nurses Association and the findings were recently published in the Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness ³.