Impact of Basic Life Support Training on Nurses’ Knowledge and Practice

Introduction:
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a significant cause of in-hospital mortality and morbidity in Ghana, with increasing incidence in the Assin Foso Municipality. Although nurses are continuously present at patients' bedsides, their ability to recognize and manage cardiac arrest using basic life support (BLS) is under scrutiny. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured BLS training program on nurses' knowledge and practical application of BLS at St. Francis Xavier Hospital.
Methods:
A one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was adopted. Using a simple random sampling technique (lottery method), 101 nurses were selected. A seven-point Likert scale questionnaire based on the American Heart Association (AHA) 2020 guidelines assessed BLS knowledge, while practical skills were evaluated using the BLS task checklist from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana. Data were analyzed using paired sample t-tests and linear regression.
Results:
There was a significant improvement in BLS knowledge after training (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.105–1.651) and in BLS practice (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 14.44; 95% CI: 12.40–16.42). Pre-training knowledge strongly predicted post-training knowledge (R² = 0.50), while pre-training practice moderately predicted post-training practice (R² = 0.12). Knowledge was not a predictor of practice at baseline but significantly influenced practice post-intervention (R² = 0.16).
Conclusion:
In-service BLS training significantly enhances both the knowledge and practical skills of nurses. Routine implementation of such programs may help reduce in-hospital mortality related to sudden cardiac arrest by strengthening frontline emergency response capacity.