[Epona]

Hi all. I have a question. As nurses or nursing students, if we see an accident say on the side of the road, are we supposed to help and render medical assistance?? How does this tie in with the "Good Samaritan" Act? We are supposed to discuss this in nursing class tomorrow. I found some info. on the net, but it mostly talked about physicians.

Thank you! E

[lpnQT25]

I recently redid my CPR and this very topic came up. It is my understanding that if you are cpr certified and saw an accident or such and kept going .. and someone found out then you could be held responsible for not giving aide .. but the Good Samaritan act" itself is a law that protects those who give life saving methods to those in need... it protects you from being held accountable... provided you did the responsible thing.. I guess thats how to say it... do u know what I mean? hope this helped..

[cbr600]

The Good Samaritan law will protect you only so far.. Remember your limitations.. Now a days everyone is sue happy, once someone finds out you have a degree/job in the medical field, and something goes wrong it's your fault.. I would stop in a second to help someone out, do CPR, call for help, apply pressure to a bleeding wound, try to prevent someone going into shock...Then pray the EMTs get there..

[Calgon-take.me.away]

I am an LPN, and also an EMT. I have stopped numerous times to render assistance to MVA's. You are covered under the good Samaatin act up to and including your scope of practice and training

[elizabeth321]

The Good samaritian act covers you if something goes wrong if you stop to help someone.....it does not in any way say you have to help....and always remember YOUR SAFETY FIRST.

[Kyrshamarks]

I will gladly step over your body as I am going on my way...I might be nice and call 911 for you but that is it.

[EricEnfermero]

Originally Posted by lpnQT25

I recently redid my CPR and this very topic came up. It is my understanding that if you are cpr certified and saw an accident or such and kept going .. and someone found out then you could be held responsible for not giving aide

In most places, if you're not directly involved in an accident and you're not an on-duty emergency service worker, you don't have to stop. "Duty to act" is part of the equation for establishing this kind of liability. Simply taking a CPR course does not establish a duty to act for every emergency or potential emergency that you might encounter on the roadway.

[KellNY]

Originally Posted by Kyrshamarks

I will gladly step over your body as I am going on my way...I might be nice and call 911 for you but that is it.

Wow. Hope someone is a little more compassionate when it's someone you love lying on the ground being stepped over. Might be nice? Wow.

[KellieNurse06]

Originally Posted by KellNY

Wow. Hope someone is a little more compassionate when it's someone you love lying on the ground being stepped over. Might be nice? Wow.

Wow aren't they reassuring to be in the healthcare field....
I hope Kyrshmarks remembers that comment if he/she are ever in a life threatneing situation.......

[traumaRUs]

As someone who does pre-hospital care, I don't want or need onlookers. That said, if EMS is on scene, don't stop. However, if you come across an accident, where no one is on-scene (police or EMS), then yes, I do sometimes stop. If it is a fender-bender, I go on. However, if its a roll-over out in my rural area, I do stop, call 911 first and then see if I can help.

I do add that as an EMS provider, I always have a CPR mask and gloves in my vehicle.