Improving Nurse Satisfaction and Knowledge of Therapeutic Hypothermia Using a Staff Education Program and Evidence-Based Protocol

Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) or Targeted Temperature Management (Nunnally et al., 2011) is defined as an intentional reduction of a patient’s core temperature to 32°C–34°C (89.6- 93.2° F) following ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with return of spontaneous circula-tion (ROSC), and who remain unconscious, for the purposes of limiting neurologic reperfusion injury (Polderman, & Herold, 2009). Mild TH is a highly valuable post cardiac arrest procedure that can result in preservation of neurologic function and reduction of the inflammatory effects of neurologic reperfusion syndrome following cardiac arrest. This procedure requires specific educational preparation in order to perform the procedure and anticipate the potential complications that might occur during nursing care. TH involves the use of specialized equipment, systematic education, and a team approach to be effective. Educational needs should be addressed in a variety of presentations over time to provide staff with the knowledge and confidence to care for these patients. The purpose of this project was to develop an educational program for critical care and emergency department nurses caring for patients undergoing TH. Development was guided by review of the literature, theoretical framework, assessment of need, and reevaluation of learning. This program development project highlights the role of the CNS in identifying, teaching, a