Emergency department nurses’ experience of performing CPR in South Korea

Background: Emergency Department (ED) nurses often confront unexpected cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with little information about the patients. Methods: This qualitative study explored the experience of performing CPR among ED nurses. Data collection took place between May and June 2016 using an online advertisement to recruit 17 ED nurses. Each participant was interviewed for 40–90 min. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was conducted using a conventional content-analysis method. Results: Four themes emerged: Pressure from the urgency of the CPR, becoming sharp tempered in addressing personnel during CPR, keeping psychological conflicts of CPR patient care to oneself, and growing as an ED nurse through CPR. Conclusion: ED nurses had anxiety about CPR, regardless of their ability to perform CPR. They also suffered psychologically afterward. ED nurses could benefit from education that promotes their competencies for CPR and support systems to alleviate their psychological distress.