Have you performed CPR?

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2006

Actually had to do chest compressions twice, been in many more near-Codes than actual Codes in my years in Tele.

KR · Dec 8, 2006

When I ran with an EMS service for several years, coded over 30ppl. I have been an ICU nurse for over 6 years and I could not begin to tell you how many ppl I have actually coded. Well over 100 easily. Keep in mind this is not only ICU patients, but floor patients as well, as ICU responds to those codes too. And no, this does not count bogus codes.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Dec 8, 2006

Ive only performed it once in our ICU when my patient all of a sudden arrested. Because I work ICU, we run to codes on the floors, so Ive seen it done a lot, but as the code team our job is working the defibrilator, pushing drugs, and getting lines in. I remember when I first did it though, all I remember was the feel of cracking ribs.

Cher

Nur_1996 · Dec 8, 2006

Two years ago, at a disability summer camp. EMS took soooo long to get there. Happy to say, the man lived.

zenman · Dec 8, 2006

So many hundreds I couldn't count them...both in and outside the hospital. Even had my hand wrapped around a heart in an open chest.

sming · Dec 9, 2006

I could not tell you the number of codes I have been involved in. I work in a CCU and at the begining of my career we seemed to have them much more often than now. I work with people who have never been in a code, myself I have had on two occations start it on the street, now that was a big addrenalin rush. I am now working half in the CCU and half as the critical care response team, which has show by some statistics helps reduse the number of codes on the floor. Just remember your ABC's and reamain calm, panic and all hell seems to break loose. If you are nervous take the compressions, you can observe what all the other people are doing around you.

vamedic4, EMT-P · Dec 9, 2006

I just got my CPR certification yesterday and was curious how often it's used.
Have you performed CPR? If so, what type of floor do you work on?

As an EMT I first performed CPR on an older lady at the ripe old age of 15. Forty five minutes of CPR is very, very tiring.

Now? I do it on infants and children when the need arises. In the last 12 plus years I've worked in dozens and dozens of codes..not always doing CPR..(give me the airway anyday). I'm getting too old to be the pump

AfloydRN, BSN, RN · Dec 16, 2006

Pretty much on a daily basis- ER/ ICU

mom23RN · Dec 16, 2006

18.5 years in ER, lost track of how many times I've worked on codes.

I was only 5 years in ER but ditto on lost count.

MsLady06 · Dec 16, 2006

most people wont do cpr unless they have the mouth peice. I've heard that one man was gasping and there was no peice available and all the nurses stood there. No wanted to use their mouth.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 16, 2006

most people wont do cpr unless they have the mouth peice. I've heard that one man was gasping and there was no peice available and all the nurses stood there. No wanted to use their mouth.

First of all, you shouldn't do CPR on anyone with a pulse. Gasping for air implies that the patient may very well have had a pulse. Be that as it may, the AHA link below answers this question. Boldface and italics added:

Support Forums: I am afraid to do mouth-to-mouth breathing. Should I just do nothing if I don't have a barrier device?

I am afraid to do mouth-to-mouth breathing. Should I just do nothing if I don't have a barrier device?

No. If you don't have a barrier device and an unresponsive victim has no signs of circulation, do chest compressions until help arrives. Chest compressions alone are better than doing nothing. A barrier device is probably provided for you at the worksite. You might also consider carrying a barrier device with you so that you can use it when you are not at your worksite. Some barrier devices are very small when folded up and fit on a key ring.

bigjay · Dec 16, 2006

I've been at about a half-dozen codes in the nine years I've worked at my hospital. Four of those years were in palliative care so no codes there. I work on an oncology/G-med floor now. We usually get DNRs on pts before they code.

The one memorable time I did compressions was on a 34 year old woman on Christmas Day. She came in with pancreatitis Dx from ER at 6:00 pm on my day shift. Unbeknownst to me (and not really communicated in report) she had a host of previous medical problems and was in really bad shape. We were unable to get a BP, critically high blood sugar, intractable pain that didn't respond to anything we gave her. The MD on call was familiar with her from previous admits and said "This is how she always presents, she looks worse than she is". We also didn't have any vacant ICU/CCU beds. After 45 minutes of watching and working we still didn't have a BP and her sugar was still critically high, pain still out of control. At one point she asked me "Am I going to die" to which I of course said no. The RT was in to draw an ABG and asked me if this lady was normally unresponsive. I took one look at her at that point and called the code. She was still breathing with pulse at that point but we don't have a pre-code team so our procedure is to call to get everyone there to try to head it off. Unfortunately she did code and I did compressions on her for an hour. Thirty minutes in someone was going to spell me but we then realized there was no board under her! I had to keep going since at that point it would've been tricky to slide one in and no-one else was likely to keep a good rhythm without it.

The code was unsuccessfull. Very sad, especially when at one point her ex-husband came into the room trailing her six year old asking "What the hell is going on!". It was heart breaking, especially on Christmas day.