Effect of Implementing Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Guidelines 2016 on Nurse’s Knowledge and Performance

Background and aim: Cardiac arrest occurs in case of cessation of effective heartbeat and blood circulation and it is one of the causes of sudden or unexpected death. Advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) considered, as a basic skill, is one of the most important inventions in hospital setting special intensive care units as well as a rapid and urgent intervention to prevent death or postpone it in a patient with cardiac arrest. This study aimed to assess effect of implementing advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) guidelines 2016 on nurse's knowledge and performance. Methods: A Quasi-Experimental study design with pre, intervention/posttest with a convenience sample included 300 nurses worked at 10 hospital settings. Data were collected by using three tools (1): Demographic Characteristics related to nurses, (2): Nurses knowledge toward ACLS pre/posttest, (3): Nurses performance an observation checklist toward ACLS according American Heart Association guidelines. Conclusions: The study confirms that significant association between the nurses’ knowledge and performance of ACLS in pre/posttest and their demographic characteristic. The educational program improves the knowledge and performance of the nursing staff regarding advanced life support. Recommendations: These findings indicate that it is imperative for nurses to receive regular, periodic in-service ACLS courses, updating AHA on the latest ACLS techniques, technologies and developments. In-service education program should make continuous training courses for the nurses about the new and up-to-date intervention related to knowledge & practice of American heart association ACLS.