Abstract
This study objectively assessed the quality of chest compressions by 13 ward nurses a year after taking a basic life support (BLS) course for healthcare providers and it administered a written questionnaire to those nurses.
The surveyed nurses were not working in the Emergency Department. Hand positioning was correct at a rate of 90.5% before course, 90.9% just after the course, and 99.9% 1 year after the course. Compression depth was 45.4mm before the course, 48.1mm just after the course, and 52.3 mm 1 year after the course. The correct rate of compressions was performed at a rate of 11.8% before the course, 26.8% just after the course, and 60.8% 1 year after the course. The number of chest compressions was 129.1/minute before the course, 125.3/minute just after the course, and 117.9/minute 1 year after the course. Adequate recoil was allowed at a rate of 94.2% before the course, 96.3% just after the course, and 99.2% 1 year after the course. Every aspect of the quality of chest compressions improved a year after the course. Presumably, 2 factors accounted for the improvement in the quality of chest compressions : the existence of a training system at the facility where nurses worked and continued instruction in wards by nurses specializing in emergency care and registered nurses after the BLS course. A topic for the future is to assess the quality of chest compressions 2 years after the BLS course in order to specifically examine forms of training that effectively maintain the quality of CPR.
