Implementation of a Low-Dose, High-Frequency Cardiac Resuscitation Quality Improvement Program in a Community Hospital.

Background: In 2015 the American Heart Association launched the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) Program to address the urgent need to improve in-hospital cardiac arrest survival through a novel competency-based model for health care provider (HCP) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. This innovation differs from the traditional Basic Life Support (BLS) training model by providing self-directed, low-dose, high-frequency CPR skill activities with the objectives of skills mastery and retention. A program implementation study was conducted at the first hospital in the state of Illinois to adopt RQI in 2016.

Interventions to Improve Adherence to a Hypoglycemia Protocol.

. A formal evidence-based hypoglycemia protocol and treatment algorithm were developed to provide safe and effective management of hypoglycemia throughout the hospital and to support organization goals to achieve blood glucose control. However, rechecking blood glucose 15 minutes after treatment for hypoglycemia, as outlined in the protocol, was challenging for the nursing staff.

Effects of education on nurse confidence and cardiac surgical glycemic control.

This research was conducted to (1) determine the relationship between nurses' confidence levels using an endocrine order set after educational interventions and experience and (2) measure glycemic control after cardiac surgery with the use of order sets. Findings showed that nurses' confidence increased with ongoing education and experience. Furthermore, tighter glycemic control was achieved on postoperative days 1 and 2, as the protocol was refined, and as the nurses became more comfortable with its use.