Objective: To evaluate the impact of an informal training program on the knowledge and skills of nursing personnel posted in pediatric acute care areas at pre-specified time points.Methods: This repeated measures quasi-experimental study design was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital between March and April 2011. In the first phase, the knowledge and skills of the participants were assessed using a validated questionnaire and a skill checklist. This was followed by an informal training program on pediatric cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and retest immediately following the training and again at 6 weeks. Results: A total of 65 nursing personnel were enrolled in the study. Of these 22 (34%) were staff nurses and 43 (66%) were final year nursing students. All of them had been trained 6 weeks earlier in an informal training and evaluation program carried out in the department. The mean knowledge score of the participating nurses increased from 9.7 before training to 13 while the mean skill score increased from 8.9 before training to 10.7 immediately following the training. At 6 weeks, the participants seemed to retain the knowledge acquired but not the skills with the mean knowledge score remaining at 13 while the mean skill score dropped to 9.8, the difference between the immediate post-test and 6 weeks skill re-test being statistically significant. Also greater proportion of participants passed the 6 weeks knowledge test (62%) in comparison to skills (26%), the difference in scores between immediate and 6 weeks re-test being statistically significant (p< 0.03) only in skills. Conclusion: Knowledge and skills of pediatric nursing personnel posted in acute care areas improved with the new teaching program. However, knowledge seemed to be retained with time in comparison to skills.

Keywords: CPR; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Nursing personnel; Nursing staff; Nursing students; Knowledge; Skills.