• H J Berden, J M Hendrick, J P van Doornen, F F Willems, N H Pijls, and J T Knape.
• Dutch College of General Practitioners, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
• Heart Lung. 1993 Nov 1; 22 (6): 509-15.

ObjectiveTo investigate the ability of qualified general nurses to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to compare these skills with those of a group of ambulance nurses.DesignCross-sectional assessment of practical cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills.Subjects141 Dutch general nurses.Outcome MeasuresThe practical skills were tested with six primary variables that describe the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques in a training situation. A total score on the skills was computed based on a predefined scoring system.ResultsThe percentage of general nurses who were able to achieve a pass score (i.e., the total score did not exceed 15 penalty points) was 6.4 percent. The average score was 37.8 penalty points. Eighty-eight percent of the ambulance nurses achieved a pass score. The average number of penalty points was 10.5.ConclusionsThe practical skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation are insufficient in the majority of this sample of general nurses in The Netherlands. The findings of this study should be used as a base to design an optimal form and content of an educational re-instruction program. We expect that a considerable improvement could be achieved by more frequent cardiopulmonary resuscitation re-instruction.

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