Mapping Evidence on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Competence and Training Retention among Nurses: A Scoping Review Protocol with Insights from Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical life-saving intervention that requires nurses to maintain high levels of competence and confidence. However, studies indicate that nurses’ CPR knowledge and skills deteriorate within months of training, especially in low- and middle-income settings where refresher programs and simulation resources are limited. In Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on nurses’ CPR competence, skill retention, and educational interventions remains fragmented and poorly synthesized. Objective: This scoping review protocol is to describe the methodological approaches to develop a scoping review which aims to map and synthesize existing evidence on nurses’ CPR competence, training effectiveness, and skill retention worldwide, with particular focus on Ghana and similar contexts. Methods: The review will follow the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley and guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Reporting will adhere to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and African Journals Online (AJOL), supplemented by gray literature. Eligible studies (2000 to date) involving nurses or nursing students will be screened independently by two reviewers using Covidence software. Extracted data will be analyzed descriptively and thematically, with results presented in tables, figures, and conceptual maps. Expected Outcomes: This review will identify key trends, methodological gaps, and contextual factors influencing CPR competence among nurses. The findings will inform nursing education, guide policy on continuing professional development, and strengthen emergency response preparedness in resource-limited settings.