The experiences of living with a transplanted kidney from a deceased donor

BACKGROUND Kidney transplantation is considered an optimal treatment option for patients with end-stage kidney disease in terms of survival rate, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. However, posttransplant life involves many medical, psychological and social challenges for transplant recipients. Understanding individuals' challenges and needs after transplantation is a prerequisite for developing effective patient education and self-management programmes. OBJECTIVE To explore how individuals experience life with a transplanted kidney from a deceased donor. METHODS The purposive sample included eight kidney transplant recipients. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. FINDING Three main themes emerged from the data and each one presents a certain aspect of the posttransplant experience: an inner struggle to find a new normality (personal level), me and the others (relational level) and only between me, my donor and god (spiritual level). CONCLUSION The experience of receiving a kidney from a deceased donor represents a complex psychological challenge for recipients. The study is unique as it shows the spiritual dimension of the transplantation experience and how the recipients' views on transplantation and organ donation are shaped by their religious and cultural background, indicating the importance of a holistic nursing approach.