A survey of theatre nurse's knowledge and ability in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Part 1--The pilot study.

Theatre nurses are often faced with the problem of taking life-saving action when their patient suffers a cardiac arrest in theatre. This may happen when neither the anaesthetist or surgeon are immediately available to help--for example before, during or after some local anaesthetic procedures. In the first paper of this two part series, Jim Nelson described a pilot study he undertook which looks at the theatre nurse's skills and knowledge of this subject.