There is currently a lack of information available on organ donation that is relevant to nursing students. This descriptive study tests the hypothesis that including additional material through a blackboard course will increase knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) of nursing students to better prepare the soon to be nurses for the delicacy of organ donation.

A previous literature review identified the problems associated with organ donation that nursing students should be taught about in their nursing education. Those problems identified became the backbone to the blackboard course. The blackboard course also focused on the QSEN competencies, which allowed for a focus on KSAs essential for nursing students to become acquainted with organ donation.

The research was conducted using the modified survey, the Nursing Students Organ Donation Questionnaire 2016. The pre-post survey consisted of 47 questions that test the students’ current KSAs related to organ donation. The population for the study was the senior level nursing course, Nursing of the Critically Ill. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group received the traditional lecture and the experimental group received the supplementary blackboard course. While all the data has not been conducted at this time, the results will be analyzed using an independent t-test.

As organ donation is becoming an ever increasing healthcare priority, education that begins in nursing school is crucial. By exposing students to the delicate situations related to organ donation, the students will be more comfortable when facing this process in their nursing career.