European cardiovascular nurses and allied professions’ practical skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The purpose of this study was to test practical skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in European cardiovascular nurses and allied professions. Methods: Eighty-six delegates at the Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing in Malmo, Sweden, in 2008, were recruited for this study. Laerdal Resusci Anne SkillReporter manikins connected to a computer with the Laerdal PC SkillReporting System were used. The participants were told to perform CPR according to the “new”guidelines from 2005; 30:2 for three minutes. Results: 88% of the tested participants were nurses and 79% were female. Mean age were 42 years (range 19–63 years). They came from 14 different European countries, though one third was from Sweden. About two thirds had trained CPR within the last year. Seven per cent had no previous CPR training. According to practical skills the average inflations per minute were five (SD+1.5), average inflation volume 992 ml (SD+423) and average flow rate 857 ml/second (SD+401). According assessment of chest compressions the average compression rate was 121 (SD+22.5), average compression per minute 79.5 (SD+14.4), average compression depth 43.8 mm (SD+9.4) and average compression duty cycle 43.8% (SD+5.7). Hand position “too low”was the most common committed error. Conclusion: The practical skill in CPR among the tested delegates was rather satisfying regarding chest compressions. However, there were wide ranges as shown by large standard deviations. Regarding ventilations, too large volumes together with flow rates as high as those performed by many of these delegates may easily lead to gastric inflation during clinical CPR.