OBJECTIVES: To evaluate nursing professionals' theoretical knowledge of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) treatment before specific training, immediately after, and six months later. METHODS: Cohort study, performed in a cardiology hospital in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (November/2005 to May/2006), Brazil. Nurses, nursing technicians and assistants were included. A questionnaire was administered in the three periods, and 75% of correct answers was considered a satisfactory result. RESULTS: Thirty-five nurses participated in the pre-test, and 34 in the immediate and 6-month tests. Among technicians and assistants, 232, 227, and 104 participated in the pre-test, immediate, and 6-months tests, respectively. Among nurses, 62.9% achieved an adequate percentage of correct answers in the pre-test, 94.1% in the immediate, and 64.7% in the 6-months test; for nursing technicians and assistants, these values were 36.2%, 79.3%, and 62.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Training in CPA improved the nursing professionals' knowledge immediately after its administration, with a reduction in the rate of correct answers after 6 months.
heart arrest; nursing; education
