Utilization of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider Course to Increase Resuscitation Self-Efficacy in Neonatal Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

Infants with congenital heart disease are predisposed to develop intrinsic rhythm abnormalities in the heart's physiological structural and conduction systems. Arrhythmias require emergent medical intervention depending on the type of arrhythmia and the patient's tolerance. The Neonatal Resuscitation Program does not provide the necessary training to manage arrhythmias. This pilot quasi-experimental research study aimed to assess the impact of the Pediatric Advanced Life Support provider course on neonatal nurse practitioners caring for congenital heart disease infants. The study included eight neonatal nurse practitioners from a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit in a Midwest urban children's hospital setting. The primary outcome was the change in resuscitation self-efficacy immediately after and at six weeks following the Pediatric Advanced Life Support course, measured using the modified Pediatric Resuscitation and Escalation of Care Self-Efficacy Scale. The secondary outcomes of a change in resuscitation knowledge and general self-efficacy were measured using pre-and post-course written exams and the New General Self-Efficacy Scale. The results did not meet statistical significance due to small sample size, but descriptive statistics demonstrated an increase in all the measures from pre- to post-intervention and at six weeks post-intervention. The Pediatric Advanced Life Support provider course positively influenced resuscitation self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, and resuscitation knowledge in the pilot cohort of neonatal nurse practitioners.