The pharmacist as a member of the CPR team: evaluation by other health professionals

Physician and nurse evaluation of the pharmacist's participation on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team was studied, in an attempt to justify the pharmacist's role. A pharmacist-evaluation questionnaire was prepared, based on the Likert Method. This questionnaire contained ten statements related to organizational and mechanical contributions, drug information contributions, and overall contribution and desire, by other health professionals, for continuance of this service. Pharmacists attended all CPRs during a six-month period and distributed a questionnaire to one physician and one nurse in attendance. Verification was obtained that these individuals had attended previous arrests where pharmacists were not in attendance. Only those evaluations that were completed and returned by the physician or the nurse, to the Department of Pharmaceutical Services, were evaluated. Results indicated that physicians and nurses are in agreement with the pharmacist's organizational and mechanical contribution. Both physicians and nurses tended toward agreement with the pharmacist's drug information contribution. Finally, physicians and nurses are in agreement with the pharmacist's overall contribution to the CPR team and desire continuance of this service.