Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation knowledge of registered nurses working in private hospital wards

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a skill that all registered nurses should maintain. In South Africa, a new healthcare trend towards accreditation in this skill is emerging. It is assumed that nurses are competent in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but studies indicate a problem of poor retention ofboth knowledge and skills in this area. A non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive and contextual research project was undertaken with the aim of exploring the knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of registered nurses working in the wards of selected private hospitals in the Western Cape Peninsula. A convenience sample of thirty registered nurses completed a multiple-choice questionnaire. The questions in the questionnaire were derived from a literature review as well as the basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation algorithms. Analysis of the data indicated that the level of knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation was inadequate particularly in the areas of medication and the rationale underlying interventions. Recommendations that were made included proposals that cardiopulmonary resuscitation training programmes be revised; and that employers ensure that registered nursing ,staff are formally trained on an annual basis.