Role of Clinical Pharmacists During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review

Year : 2026 | Volume : 04 | Issue : 01 | Page : 12 25
By

Asad Jamal Ansari,

Saurabh Kumar Chauhan,

  1. Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Uttar Pradesh, India
  2. Researcher, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) represents an essential emergency procedure designed to reestablish spontaneous circulation and enhance survival rates among individuals suffering cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation necessitates prompt clinical judgment, expeditious pharmaceutical interventions, compliance with advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) guidelines, and synchronized interprofessional collaboration. During recent decades, clinical pharmacists have gained greater incorporation within emergency response and resuscitation units owing to their specialized knowledge in medication oversight, pharmacotherapeutic enhancement, and patient protection. This narrative examination consolidates existing evidence concerning clinical pharmacist involvement during CPR within intensive care environments and emergency medicine departments. Clinical pharmacists provide substantial contributions through pharmaceutical preparation and delivery, dosage confirmation, treatment guidance, medication safety surveillance, and enhancement of time-sensitive therapeutic interventions throughout resuscitation procedures. Their involvement has demonstrated associations with improved ACLS protocol compliance, decreased pharmaceutical errors, strengthened interprofessional communication, and enhanced emergency medication distribution efficiency. Pharmacists additionally fulfil crucial functions in post-arrest management via hemodynamic assessment, pharmacotherapeutic enhancement, and detection of drug-related complications in critically ill individuals. Furthermore, educational initiatives, simulation-based learning, ACLS and basic life support (BLS) credentialing, and interdisciplinary partnerships remain vital for sustaining pharmacist proficiency in emergency response situations. Although pharmacist recognition within resuscitation teams continues expanding, obstacles such as insufficient personnel, training inconsistencies, absence of uniform role specifications, and limited data regarding extended clinical results persist in influencing their incorporation into emergency medical services. Prospective investigations emphasizing standardized practice models and extended clinical outcomes may additionally reinforce clinical pharmacist contributions to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and critical care administration

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, clinical pharmacist, cardiac arrest, advanced cardiovascular life support, emergency medicine, medication safety

[This article belongs to International Journal of Emergency and Trauma Nursing and Practices ]

How to cite this article: Asad Jamal Ansari, Saurabh Kumar Chauhan. Role of Clinical Pharmacists During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Emergency and Trauma Nursing and Practices. 2026; 04(01):12-25.
How to cite this URL: Asad Jamal Ansari, Saurabh Kumar Chauhan. Role of Clinical Pharmacists During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Emergency and Trauma Nursing and Practices. 2026; 04(01):12-25. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijetnp/article=2026/view=257480

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Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 04
Issue 01
Received 10/05/2026
Accepted 12/05/2026
Published 30/05/2026
Publication Time 20 Days

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