Introduction
Imagine you are on duty in a hospital ward when suddenly a patient becomes unresponsive. The monitor shows no pulse. The team shouts, “Code Blue!”
In emergency situations, nurses must think critically, act quickly, and work effectively as a team. In this WebQuest, you will explore the principles of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) to understand how healthcare professionals respond during cardiac arrest.
By the end of this activity, you will be prepared to analyze a cardiac emergency scenario and propose appropriate nursing interventions.
Task
You are part of a hospital rapid response team. Your task is to:
Explain what happens during cardiac arrest.
Identify the difference between shockable and non-shockable rhythms.
Outline the step-by-step nursing interventions during a Code Blue.
Create a group presentation (PowerPoint, infographic, or short video) demonstrating proper emergency response based on your assigned case scenario.
Your final output must include:
A flowchart of the emergency response
Identification of the cardiac rhythm
Correct interventions based on guidelines
Team roles during the code
Process
Step 1: Build Background Knowledge
Research:
What is cardiac arrest?
What are the common cardiac rhythms during arrest?
What is the Chain of Survival?
Step 2: Identify Cardiac Rhythms
Learn to differentiate:
Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (pVT)
Asystole
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
Step 3: Analyze a Scenario
Your group will be assigned one emergency case. Analyze:
What rhythm is present?
Is defibrillation needed?
What medications or interventions are appropriate?
What is the nurse’s role?
Step 4: Create Your Output
Prepare your presentation including:
Visual aids (flowchart or diagram)
Evidence-based interventions
Explanation of rationale
Evaluation
| Criteria | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Fair (2) | Needs Improvement (1) |
| Accuracy of Content | All interventions are correct and evidence-based | Minor errors | Some inaccuracies | Major inaccuracies |
| Critical Thinking | Clear rationale and strong clinical reasoning | Adequate explanation | Limited explanation | No clear reasoning |
| Organization & Flow | Logical, clear, easy to follow | Mostly organized | Some confusion | Disorganized |
| Team Collaboration | All members actively participated | Most participated | Uneven participation | Minimal teamwork |
| Presentation Quality | Professional, creative, engaging | Clear but simple | Basic | Incomplete |
Conclusion
Conclusion
Cardiac emergencies require rapid assessment, knowledge, teamwork, and confidence. Through this WebQuest, you explored the science behind cardiac arrest and applied your knowledge to a realistic clinical scenario.
Reflect on the following:
What was the most challenging part of the scenario?
How did teamwork affect decision-making?
How can you prepare yourself for real-life emergencies?
This activity demonstrates how inquiry-based learning and online resources can help bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world clinical application.