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Studies find healthcare professionals’ CPR skills flat lining

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, January 31, 2005

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It's time to assess your staffs' competencies in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Two recently-released studies outline inadequacies found in the administration of CPR by nurses, physicians, and paramedics to victims of cardiac arrest, according to the Associated Press (AP). The studies found that the guidelines for administering CPR often are not followed, which leads to problems such as not applying enough pressure to victims' chests when attempting to restart the heart, and breathing air into the lungs too often. Both studies used a simulation device-developed and funded by Laerdal Medical Corp, a Norwegian company-to assess the CPR skills of participants. While performing one study with 67 adult patients at the University of Chicago, researchers found that nurses and physicians failed to follow at least one CPR guideline 80% of the time. The American Heart Association (AHA) spokesman told the AP that the studies' findings will be discussed at an upcoming medical conference in Dallas, which may lead to an update of CPR guidelines.

How do your staff measure up? If they need more practice, consider using the AHA's online training. Click herehttp://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011775 for more information on AHA's CPR training courses for healthcare professionals.

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