The Five-4-Life Quality Improvement Program: Improving Frontline Nurses' Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Leadership and Team Management Skills.

BACKGROUND: Poor leadership and teamwork in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are associated with poor patient outcomes. PROBLEM: Frontline nursing staff frequently identify patients in cardiac arrest but may not have the initial leadership and teamwork skills to organize their initial rescue response. APPROACH: The Five-4-Life Quality Improvement (QI) program was pilot tested in a pediatric unit within a 510-bed acute care hospital in 2 phases: first, an educational program focused on leadership, team dynamics, and CPR skills, followed by sustaining interventions in the unit. Video recordings of 12 mock codes (4 pre-, 4 post-, 4 follow-up) were analyzed by trained observers. OUTCOMES: Descriptive statistical tests indicated a significant improvement in leadership, teamwork, and task management scores pre- and post-program, and sustained after the program. CONCLUSION: Implementing the Five-4-Life QI program is feasible in improving leadership, teamwork, and task management of first responding frontline nurses.