THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NURSES IN CASES OF CARDIOPULMONARY ARREST

Abstract

Early identification and immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers are crucial to increase the chances of survival. The current research aims to analyze the impacts of continuing education on the clinical practice of nurses in the face of cardiopulmonary arrest. For this purpose, an Integrative Literature Review with a qualitative comparative approach was carried out, using studies published between 2019 and 2024, via the Virtual Health Library and Pubmed, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish. The Health Sciences Descriptors "Continuing Education", "Nurses" and "Cardiac Arrest" and their respective Medical Subject Headings were used. Articles aiming to address the results of training in nursing teams, to indicate methods of training and continuing education for professionals were included. Duplicate articles, titles divergent from the theme, and studies that only deal with characteristics of cardiac arrest were excluded. Seven articles were selected for final reading. After the interventions, the performance of cardiac arrest management showed a significant improvement. A loss of practical skills over time was evidenced, indicating practical training as effective ways to improve the quality of resuscitation. Adherence to courses and training is strongly linked to the cost and availability of the same. It was evidenced that continuing education programs are effective in promoting updating and maintenance of theoretical knowledge and practical skills of the health team. Continuing education showed a positive impact, improving the performance of the multidisciplinary team in the management of cardiac arrest. It is essential to train professionals, promoting the maintenance of practical skills, aiming to increase the success rate in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest.