RQI implementation offers students BLS, ACLS, PALS certifications

The Norwich University School of Nursing (NUSON), in partnership with Laerdal, has implemented the Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) program to provide nursing students and faculty with the opportunity to learn, develop, and maintain the clinical skills associated with high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  

RQI is a program that was developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) to replace the traditional two-year CPR certification model with a hands-on, competency-based, quarterly skills demonstration that delivers real time performance feedback on quality of chest compressions and respirations to equip responders for the delivery of high-quality CPR. 

Research shows that the traditional model for CPR training allows for long gaps between practice sessions, leading to a potential skill decay that can compromise performance during real-life emergencies. The RQI program addresses this gap by providing students with the opportunity for quarterly hands-on skills practice using manikins that provide immediate feedback with performance metrics such as compression depth, rate, recoil, and ventilation quality.

“RQI provides the ability for students to have immediate access to life-saving resuscitation training which will be imperative in their role as a student nurse and in their everyday life,” says Elizabeth VanHorn, lecturer and clinical instructor. “It also provides continued refresher training every quarter to ensure their skills remain competent, with our RQI skills station located right here in the School of Nursing. Overall, this will increase our students' confidence in their CPR skills as they enter their careers as Registered Nurses.” 

Students can use the RQI program at NUSON to earn certification in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Care Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) allowing them to enter their clinical rotations and professional practice roles with the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality and life-saving care. To earn a certification, students complete an initial online learning module followed by a skills demonstration using the RQI cart located in the Clinical Simulation Center. Students then self-schedule a quarterly skills demonstration in the Center to maintain their certification.

Over the course of the first semester, students have responded with enthusiasm and engagement. Many have shared how the immediate feedback has led them to improve their skills and technique, ultimately improving their performance and confidence when it comes to delivery of CPR in the clinical setting. By implementing and adopting RQI, NUSON has aligned the nursing program with national best practices reflecting the school’s ongoing commitment to innovation, patient safety, clinical outcomes, and educational excellence.