Obstetric‐Based Advanced Cardiac Life Support Improves Performance and Self‐Efficacy

Abstract

Poster Presentation Objective To determine the effectiveness of an obstetrics‐based advanced cardiac life support (ACLS OB) education program in enhancing the satisfaction, self‐confidence, and abilities of labor and delivery (L&D) nurses to perform ACLS algorithms. Design Quasi‐experimental study. Sample Ninety‐six L&D nurses from a community hospital system. Method Pre‐ and postsurvey of nurses completing ACLS OB class and concurrent individual scoring of mock code scenario using American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS algorithms. Implementation Strategies Nurses rotated through an ACLS OB course after ACLS recertification. Two studies were done. Prior to the class, nurses participated in a maternal mock code drill during annual skills review and performances were scored. One year later, nurses again participated in maternal mock code drills. Results were compared with the previous year's scores. In the second study, pre‐ and postclass surveys were completed reflecting nurses’ satisfaction and self‐confidence with successfully completing elements of AHA algorithms following attendance at traditional ACLS classes versus ACLS OB. Results Nurses who completed the ACLS OB course had significantly higher scores overall when performing ACLS MegaCode algorithms ( z = −6.08, p p Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Emphasizing changes in ACLS for obstetric patients during preconference and using patient scenarios encountered in obstetric settings improved nurses’ performance in maternal MegaCode scenarios. The course also increased self‐satisfaction and self‐confidence in obstetric nurses’ abilities to perform ACLS algorithms.