Are first year undergraduate medical students competent in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation?

Performing high quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is paramount to patient survival, and the successful application of CPR knowledge and skills largely depends on the education and training the rescuers have received. Medical students are expected to be proficient in basic CPR skills upon graduation, and as such may be required to demonstrate the ability to deliver CPR to patients at any point during their medical degree. Similar to other Australian Medical Schools, James Cook University (JCU) requires all first year medical students to submit a certificate of completion of an Australian Credited First Aid and CPR course, from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Currently, no additional training or assessment of students’ competence in basic CPR knowledge and skills are included in Years1-3 of the medical curriculum, even though further activities in Years4-6 of the course build on fundamental CPR knowledge and skills