Revisiting CPR knowledge and skills among registered nurses.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore facets involved in the retention of the cognitive knowledge and psychomotor skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by 73 RNs from three general hospitals. Data analysis indicated that cognitive knowledge was adequately retained but that skills were not. Product-moment correlation coefficients showed that the number of CPR courses taken, certification as a CPR instructor, the number of years certified, and time since last certification were significantly related to skill scores. Findings prompt questions of appropriateness of the usual certification procedures for hospital-based RNs.