Globally, the demand for cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is increasing as a cardiac arrest patient has better survival chance if CPR is performed immediately. However, in India, there is no routine training on CPR. We conducted this study to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices about CPR among nurses in a hospital.

We conducted a cross-sectional study among nurses in a tertiary hospital in Kohima, Nagaland, India from August1 to October 31, 2018. We interviewed nurses whoever agreed to participate. We categorised them into CPR trained, CPR not trained, general nursing and higher nursing.

Among 137 nurses, 72% (99/137) responded. About 39% (39/99) were trained in CPR. Among CPR trained, 85% (33/39) were general nursing and all 100% (39/39) were females. About 54% (21/39) were in age group of 20-40 years and 54% (21/39) were temporary employees. About 33% (13/39) were posted in critical care department and 26% (10/39) were in male surgical ward. Majority of CPR trained 92% (36/39, p Value 0.01) knew initial response to heart attack is part of basic life support (BLS) and 77% (30/39, p Value 0.00) knew chest compression depth of 5 cm is associated with favourable outcomes.  Most general nursing 99% (88/89) and higher nursing 90% (9/10, p Value 0.05)) knew meaning of compression, airway and breathing (CAB). Among general nursing 81% (72/89, p Value 0.02) knew the rate of compression per minute and 80% (71/89, p Value 0.03) knew compression ventilation ratio. All higher nursing 100% (10/10) felt emergency medical service must be imparted among public and 70% (7/10, p Value 0.00) felt all health care providers must be trained in CPR. About 80% (8/10, p Value 0.00) felt other aspects of CPR include team dynamics and 70% (7/10, p Value 0.00) felt patients and families should be taught to recognize acute coronary symptoms