Life Support Course for Nurses in Singapore

Heng WJK, Seow E, Tham KY
Correspondence: Dr Kenneth Heng, Kenneth_Heng@ttsh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Nurses are usually the first caregivers for cardiac arrest patients in an in-hospital environment, and subsequently partner with doctors in the further resuscitation of patients. The skills of basic life support are crucial for their practice. The Advanced Cardiac Life Support programme is traditionally geared toward training of medical staff in advanced resuscitation skills. The need for a bridging course that focuses on the knowledge and skills required by nurses to become effective members of the resuscitation team has resulted in the creation of the Life Support Course for Nurses (LSCN) in Singapore. The components of the LSCN programme have evolved over the years, taking into consideration the modifications to resuscitation guidelines. The LSCN programme is gradually including a larger proportion of nurses in the emergency and critical care environments as well as those in the general ward.

Keywords: empowering nurses, life support team, nurse instructors, nursing life support training centres
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(8): 557-559