Pharmacy resident participation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation events

PURPOSE: An electronically administered cross-sectional survey was conducted to establish the rate of pharmacy resident participation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) events at pharmacy residency programs throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. METHODS: A 46-item questionnaire was developed and sent by e-mail to pharmacy residency program directors. The recipients were given one month to complete the survey. Responses were screened for duplicate answers, and the most complete survey was included in the analysis. The survey dealt with residency program demographics and sought information about required life-support certifications for pharmacy personnel, institution-specific training methods for medical emergencies employed by pharmacy departments, responsibilities of pharmacy personnel who respond to CPR events, and evaluation methods used to assess resident performance in CPR events. RESULTS: A total of 745 pharmacy residency directors were surveyed. Responses were received from 190 residency program directors, which represented 221 residency programs. The three most common residency program settings were community (not-for- profit) hospitals, college and university hospitals, and government hospitals. Thirty percent of respondents required pharmacy resident response to CPR events, while 38% made this opportunity optional. In 85% of programs that required or offered resident response to CPR events, there was a formal CPR team. The three primary roles fulfilled by pharmacists in medical emergencies were provision of drug information, drug admixture, and documentation; pharmacy resident duties mirrored these roles. CONCLUSION: Pharmacy resident response to CPR events was required in approximately 30% of responding pharmacy residency programs. Various methods were used in educating, assessing, and evaluating pharmacy residents in this role.