Level and Determinants of Advanced Life Support Knowledge Among Nurses

Plain-language summary

This study evaluated the knowledge of advanced life support (ALS) among general nurses in Spain and examined the effectiveness of an educational intervention to address identified knowledge gaps. Initially, a cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2020 and February 2021, involving 888 general nurses from all 52 Spanish provinces. Data were collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire assessing demographics, education, professional background, and theoretical ALS knowledge. The results showed that 72.3% of nurses did not achieve the minimum passing score of 70%, revealing significant knowledge deficits, particularly in fluid therapy, defibrillation protocols, ALS algorithms, and use of the LUCAS® CPR device. Higher knowledge levels were associated with female gender, possession of a Master's degree or higher, working in high-risk areas for cardiac arrest, and recent ALS training. To address these gaps, a second, quasi-experimental study was carried out between February and October 2023 in the Valencian Community. This non-randomized intervention followed the TREND guidelines and targeted nurses registered in one of the three official nursing colleges of the region. The educational intervention included an asynchronous online phase hosted on a Google Sites platform, where participants accessed interactive learning materials and completed a pre-test. This was followed by a four-hour in-person session that included a brief theoretical review and hands-on workshops practicing various ALS techniques. A post-intervention test was administered immediately afterward. The intervention led to a noticeable improvement in ALS knowledge, demonstrating its effectiveness. Overall, the study highlights insufficient ALS knowledge among Spanish nurses and the need for continuous, structured education. The successful outcome of the intervention reinforces the importance of ongoing training programs to enhance the preparedness of nurses in responding to cardiac arrest and other high-risk clinical scenarios.

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