In the Philippines, organ donation is regulated under the Organ Donation Act (RA7170) and promoted by the Department of Health through the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PHILNOS). The number of organ donors to meet the increasing demand in the country continues to lag. The emergency department (ED) was identified in several foreign studies to be a significant source of successful organ donation. This action research project investigated the attitude and perception of 125 ED healthcare workers (HCWs) from three hospitals in Metro Manila before and after an awareness event. The study reveals that ED nurses and doctors are generally supportive and hold positive perceptions and attitudes toward organ donation. Despite the positive attitude, HCWs seem to be uncomfortable or unwilling to perform tasks important to organ donation such as approaching relatives and management of the deceased organ donor. Future training on organ donation will increase the positive attitude, confidence and likelihood to participate in organ donation and transplant activities.
Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Emergency Service, Hospital

Health  professionals  are  trained  to  recognize  and  address  cues  which  endanger  the  client's survival. In critical situations, we focus on ensuring the airway, breathing and circulation (ABC) in order to sustain life. Oftentimes, we feel great in performing dramatic interventions and save our patients from the brink of death. But is this enough? Does our role end here? Is this only how we define good nursing care?
This is the case of DL, a 39 year old female who, upon admission to the pay ward in Philippine General  Hospital,  presented  with  respiratory  distress,  as  evidenced  by  dyspnea  and  oxygen desaturation, necessitating intubation. Health history revealed the client as a diagnosed case of Bipolar  I  Disorder  for  21  years.  The  goal  of  providing  holistic  care  to  a  patient  with  a  mood-affective disorder presenting with a medical emergency, like DL, poses a crucial challenge - the challenge in going beyond what meets the eye and focusing on human responses and not just the disease process. This case was then selected to serve as a reminder and a learning opportunity that we should not be limited to symptom management, but more importantly, to recognize the totality of the human being, which is the true essence of nursing care. 

Human ; Female ; Adult ; Oxygen ; Hospitals, General ; Dyspnea ; Emotions ; Respiration ; Bipolar Disorder ; Mood Disorders ; Intubation