Ward nurses' resuscitation of critical patients: current training and barriers

Little is known about the current training and barriers in resuscitation skills among practicing ward nurses. A convenience sample of 459 ward nurses, recruited from 11 academic teaching hospitals in Korea, were surveyed to assess current training and barriers to optimal resuscitation performance on the wards. The Perceived Barriers scale was developed, refined, and its psychometric properties were assessed. Approximately 36% of nurses had received simulation-based resuscitation skills training. Exploratory factor analysis identified four barriers accounting for 58.4% of the variance: insufficient training (37.7%), lack of competence (9.8%), lack of self-confidence (5.9%), and workload and tension (5.1%). Strategic planning and resuscitation skills training should be incorporated into staff development programs to reduce barriers to optimal resuscitation performance and cope with work demands for ward nurses.