Knowledge and Skills of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation among Critical Care Nurses in Kuwaiti Hospitals

Background: The ability of nurses and the other health care professionals to deal with cardiac arrest effectively depends largely on their knowledge and skills regarding the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of knowledge and skills about CPR and the factors influencing the level of CPR knowledge and skills among critical care nurses in Kuwait. Methods: To meet the purpose of this study, a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational design was used. A sample of 204 critical care nurses from two governmental hospitals completed the study. Three instruments were used to collect data, including the demographic questionnaire, the CPR certification exam quiz, and the Basic Life Support Skills Checklist. Results: About 56.4% of the study participants passed the skills exam about CPR. However, only 15.7% passed the knowledge test about CPR. Better CPR Knowledge was associated with working in Hospital 2, receiving formal training in CPR, and being AHA certified. Better CPR skills was related to working in Hospital 2, male gender, experience in nursing, experience in travelling with patients for seeking treatment outside Kuwait, being AHA certified, and receiving formal training in CPR (P<0.05). Conclusion: Frequent education and training in CPR in the hospital and having CPR accreditation from AHA are required for critical care nurses in order to increase their ability to save the life of critically ill patients who are at risk for cardiac arrest.