Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skills (CPR)

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques and early recognition findings for adults, children, and infants.

2. Determine appropriate automated external defibrillator actions across patient populations.

3. Evaluate team-based and post-cardiac-arrest care priorities that support coordinated resuscitation.

This course reviews evidence-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation principles, including early recognition, high-quality chest compressions, effective ventilation, and AED use across age groups. Clinical scenarios and first-response sequences help physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice providers, and nurses strengthen decision-making for cardiac emergencies. The activity does not replace hands-on skills assessment or certification when an employer, credentialing body, or licensing authority requires those.

This course supports responsibilities that extend beyond performing chest compressions. Relevant clinical roles include recognizing cardiac arrest and peri-arrest deterioration, directing team-based resuscitation, selecting and interpreting appropriate resuscitation algorithms, coordinating airway management and defibrillation, identifying reversible causes, adapting care for pediatric, neonatal, pregnant, drowning, traumatic, and opioid-associated emergencies, and transitioning the patient to post-cardiac-arrest care. The course also reinforces communication, documentation, referral, transport, termination-of-resuscitation decision-making, and coordination with emergency medical services and specialty teams. Clinical actions should remain consistent with current American Heart Association guidance, institutional privileges, applicable law, and local resuscitation protocols (American Heart Association, 2025b, 2025d).

With the release of the updated 2025 American Heart Association guidelines, there is a critical need for healthcare professionals to update their knowledge of current techniques and evidence-based procedures. The content addresses the competency gap in delivering rapid, high-quality CPR to combat the nearly 90% mortality rate associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.