ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE OF CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR) AMONG NURSES IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF RAWALPINDI AND ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a core emergency intervention that sustains cardiac and pulmonary function in patients with cardiac arrest. Nurses are frequently the first responders in hospital emergencies; therefore, their knowledge and preparedness directly influence patient survival outcomes.
Objective: This study aims to assess the level of theoretical knowledge regarding CPR among registered nurses working in tertiary care hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 231 registered nurses using a structured self-administered questionnaire derived from the American Heart Association [3] CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25). Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were calculated, and the results are presented in tables.
Results: The majority of respondents were female (74.9%) and aged 25–30 years (39.0%), with 51.9% having more than five years of experience. Most nurses correctly identified that CPR should begin immediately after patient collapse (77.0%) and recognized the 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio (69.3%). Nevertheless, gaps persisted in technical aspects such as compression depth, rate, and acceptable interruption time.

Conclusion: Nurses demonstrated moderate theoretical CPR knowledge, showing strength in recognizing the need for immediate resuscitation but deficits in precise technical parameters. Regular, mandatory refresher training and simulation-based education are recommended to maintain competency and improve patient outcomes