Assessment of Knowledge of Basic Life Support Among Nursing Students at Global College of Nursing, Hyderabad

Abstract

Introduction: Basic Life Support (BLS) is a critical emergency intervention that includes early recognition of cardiac arrest and prompt initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to maintain circulation and breathing until advanced care is available. Nursing students must possess adequate knowledge of BLS as they are often first responders in clinical settings. Objective: To assess the knowledge of Basic Life Support among undergraduate nursing students at Global College of Nursing, Hyderabad. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Global College of Nursing, Hyderabad, from September to December 2025. A total of 70 undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing students were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of demographic information and knowledge-based items related to BLS. SPSS version 27 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were applied. Results: The majority of participants correctly identified the full form of BLS (95.7%). However, gaps were observed in critical areas including initial emergency response, infant compression techniques, compression depth and rate, and AED terminology, with 50.0% incorrectly identifying AED meaning. The mean knowledge score was 2.05 ± 0.29, indicating an average level of knowledge. Overall, 50% of participants had average knowledge, 30% good knowledge, and 20% poor knowledge. Conclusion: Nursing students demonstrated an average level of knowledge regarding BLS, with notable deficiencies in essential life-saving skills. Strengthening simulation-based and practical BLS training is recommended to improve competency among future nurses.