Retention of CPR Skills by Nursing Students Received Training in AHA BLS Course for Healthcare Providers

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: After initial cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, CPR performance declines substantially over time. We undertook this study to evaluate the retention of CPR skills by nursing students who received training in the American Heart Association (AHA) basic life support (BLS) course for healthcare providers. METHODS: Third-year nursing students at Ulsan College received training in an 8-hour AHA BLS course. The sequence of CPR actions follows those of the AHA 2005 guidelines. Six months later, skill retention was tested in some of the students without previous notice. Performance in fifteen discrete skills was tested in a scenario format. Resuscitation skills were measured using skill-reporting manikin connected to a PC using Ambu(R) MegaCode Simulation Software and Philips'AED Trainer-2(R). Each of the tests was recorded in video-tapes and the results were analysed by two emergency physicians. RESULTS: Sixty participants were trained and 22 of them were chosen for testing after 6 months. Although not statistically significant, assessing responsiveness (n=17, 77.3%), correct hand placements for compressions (n=17, 77.3%), delivering adequate compression (n=15, 68.2%), turning on the AED (n=18, 81.8%), and placing pads correctly (n=17, 77.3%) tended to be better than the performance of the other discrete skills. The chest compression rate and depth were 105.6+/-26.4/min and 45.5+/-11.3mm, respectively. These two skills were performed correctly 59.1% and 59.1% in all the participants, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the generally poor 6- month retention of CPR skills and demonstrated the need for reeducation in nursing students. Further studies are needed to identify the appropriate re-training interval for different occupations.