Responding to In-hospital Cardiac Arrests During Times of System-wide Strain: A Code Refresher Training

Abstract

Background: Pandemic conditions of system-wide strain are associated with increased rates of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). During normal times, medical-surgical nurses may forget cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills as soon as 3 months after training, leaving them unprepared and anxious about managing cardiac arrests. During pandemic surges, heightened anxiety can also impact concentration and confidence. Method: Clinicians offered a 45-minute mock code training refresher for medical-surgical nurses to improve confidence performing CPR while adhering to pandemic-related safety procedures. In this pre-post clinical education project, nurses' confidence was measured with the Nursing Anxiety and Self-Confidence with Clinical Decision Making © Scale. Results: Although the results were not statistically significant, participants verbally reported increased confidence to initiate resuscitation, collaborate with team members, and use personal protective equipment during the posttraining debrief. Conclusion: A high percentage of RNs do not have adequate confidence and/or competence in performing CPR, particularly during times of system-wide strain, and this brief, inexpensive refresher training warrants further study. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(9):442–448.]