Narcan and CPR education

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello all! I'm not sure if this is the right topic to post under, but I'm sure activists will have some more insight. I'm a travel ASN RN that does CCU and critical care.

Very short story, my best friend was in the grocery store, a man literally dropped dead in front of her and it took roughly 10 minutes for even anyone to know to check a pulse. (The person who called 911 was not at the mans side so I'm guessing that's why there were no instructions on how to perform CPR. I was so angry that NOONE knew what to do. I told my friend, the man was dead, you couldn't have hurt him, just try!

Also, I live in PA and licensed in PA, and narcan is being distributed very openly here now because of the drug epidemic. I know most nurses have very poor feelings towards those who need narcan. In PA, anyone can carry it, like an epi pen.

So here is my question, regardless how you feel about drug addicts....is there anything I, as an RN can do for FREE community education. Teach CPR, education on narcan and administration and what to do after its used (I would go to high risk areas to teach this like strip clubs and maybe clinics).

These precious minutes waisted make such a difference in the outcome of these people. I am very fortunate and don't want to receive any kind of compensation for this. I just want a better educated community and people who arnt too afraid to try to save a life. I was going to start with my local EMS site where they certify you for CPR and start there. I don't want to put my license at risk doing something good, but I have to find a way to give back to my community. We are loosing so many of our young people to drugs here. Please keep any and all negative comments about addicts to yourself. Thank you for reading and please help me help others. ❤️ Monique RN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Are you credentialed as a CPR instructor? I don't think you can legitimately teach CPR otherwise. And I'm not sure what kind of "education" you think people need about naloxone. I'm hearing lots of news coverage about how it's available, and the coverage I've heard always says that the little kit you get includes instructions on how to use it, and that people should always be seen in an ED after using the naloxone.

I don't mean to sound cold, but we can't save everyone (and won't ever be able to save everyone, I expect).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well one of my questions would be can an RN become certified to teach CPR? And what kind of education?? ANY education!! Teach people how to use it and to call 911 anyway!!! To teach them not to be afraid to use it if they suspect an overdose. If people can actually physically touch the medication and see how it works then they will be more comfortable giving it. I'd say that's a step up from reading the instruction packet included. I've been discussing this with people in my area and MOST people don't even know that in our state narcan can be given by anyone!!! My goal is to get people aware of that and let them know in an emergency they can help! I know we can't save everyone, but if it was my loved one I hope SOMEONE would TRY!!! I knew I would not get positive feedback from nurses in regulads to narcan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Anyone can become certified to be a community CPR instructor contact the AHA and ARC. You need to be affiliated with a training center once you get the instructor credential.

Local health departments, county prosecutor, and county sheriffs are taking the lead in Narcan education and distribution. Federally qualified health clinics often are seeking volunteer outreach nurses for public health education.

Don't be sure people don't know they can help more often it's apathy and not wanting to get involved.

I seriously doubt so few people know about Narcan the you tube videos, news about CVS willing to carry it as OTC have made national headlines.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Community education on Narcan has a long way to go, first step is majority of public approval.

Community CPR education is a huge push by the American Heart Association though. As an RN, are you required by your job to have BLS for Healthcare Provider? Talk to who taught your class.

AHA Instructors

The latest AHA guidelines also promote services like the PulsePoint app to get the community involved in bystander CPR.

http://Http://pulsepoint.org

http://Http://twitter.com/pulsepoint

http://Http://twitter.com/1000livesaday

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just beachy, thank you so much! That was so much info. And so much help. My views on what people do and don't know about narcan are all coming from conversations I have had with people in high risk areas. Managers and owners of bars and clubs in poor areas. A lot simply don't know what it is. Little to no education past middle/early high school. I figured everyone would know what it is, especially in Pittsburgh bc it has been all over the news when it became so attainable. Who knows why they don't know. Thank you for your help. It's very disheartening to want to do something good and get discouraged from all angles.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have looked at your department of public health website? Do they have a naloxone training and overdose awareness program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Regarding CPR - check with your local Red Cross chapter. They train people to be CPR/AED instructors. (In my area the class costs $300 and is 2 days long.)

Instructor Certification & Training Classes | Red Cross

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Well one of my questions would be can an RN become certified to teach CPR? And what kind of education?? ANY education!! Teach people how to use it and to call 911 anyway!!! To teach them not to be afraid to use it if they suspect an overdose. If people can actually physically touch the medication and see how it works then they will be more comfortable giving it. I'd say that's a step up from reading the instruction packet included. I've been discussing this with people in my area and MOST people don't even know that in our state narcan can be given by anyone!!! My goal is to get people aware of that and let them know in an emergency they can help! I know we can't save everyone, but if it was my loved one I hope SOMEONE would TRY!!! I knew I would not get positive feedback from nurses in regulads to narcan.

Nurses are not the people who can help you achieve your goals. You need to be in contact and working with a variety of media outlets to get the message out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Why do you think narcan should have been immediately given to this man, or just any person that falls over? They aren't all drug addicts.

Call me crazy but I don't think just anybody should be walking around shooting people up with narcan. If I have a family member who is maybe a known drug addict I would maybe get it, but not to just shoot up anybody on the street. Some people take pain meds legitimately and say they passed out for some other reason, now some random person gives them Narcan. You've reversed their medication. Narcan is a great med and an save lives but Joe Schmo on the street doesn't need it.

Your heart is in the right place but you are looking at this incorrectly. Our government and medical professionals need to learn to adequately treat drug addiction. Correctly treat the patient. Not just throw clean needles and narcan out. It's crazy. The DEA comes in and shuts down a few pill mills and pat themselves on the back, all while making drug addiction worse. I've seen it firsthand.

Our government has done nothing to fix this issue. They have made it 100 times worse. So now they want to set up needle exchange stations and narcan to anybody. I wish they would take that money spent on that and put it into helping these people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with harm reduction programs, I don't blame a government's lack of treatment programs, there is plenty of evidence of heroin addicts who have received quality treatment on multiple occasions, but still relapsed eight, nine, ten times, that suggests it is the nature of addiction, not the inadequacy of the treatment programs. Since we know that relapse is common, it makes sense to prevent the spread of blood borne diseases like hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS by having needle exchange programs. I also agree with making naloxone available as an over-the-counter medication so that family members and friends of drug users can use it if they overdose.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
I agree with harm reduction programs, I don't blame a government's lack of treatment programs, there is plenty of evidence of heroin addicts who have received quality treatment on multiple occasions, but still relapsed eight, nine, ten times, that suggests it is the nature of addiction, not the inadequacy of the treatment programs. Since we know that relapse is common, it makes sense to prevent the spread of blood borne diseases like hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS by having needle exchange programs. I also agree with making naloxone available as an over-the-counter medication so that family members and friends of drug users can use it if they overdose.

That's because they don't understand addiction in its entirety. Even people who run treatment programs don't understand addiction. They want to put a bandaid on it. Here's 10 weeks of counseling. Then out you go!! That's not how you treat addiction. Nor is shutting down pill mill doctors where at least those addicts are getting clean drugs from a legit pharmacy. Then, those people are turning to Heroin. Because now, we have cut off their Norco supply. Hmmm, black tar heroin or some Norcos. I'm wanting an addict on those Norcos.

You can't send the DEA in to **** down doctors unless you have the enormous resources to help those addicts. Which our government doesn't want to spend the money on. But our legislators have some families breathing down their necks that their family members died because they were addicts. And since the family members don't understand addiction th u want to blame somebody. The docs are first on their list.

Ive seen addiction firsthand. I see what it dies to a family, an entire community. The addiction starts waaaay before they get to the drugs. It often manifests as something that nobody sees as harmful. These people have a predisposition in their brain plus some underlying mental health issues. That is what needs to be treated. Why an addict was seeking that high or escape in the first place. Is it poverty? Is it q self esteem issue? Is there abuse? Are better coping mechanisms needed for everyday stuff? What is that issue?

So no, I don't agree with needle exchange stations or Narcan to everyone. Not everyone can even begin to fathom how to determine if somebody has OD or not. General lay people should not be given that responsibility, ever. What I do agree with is truly helping people with addiction issues and not a temporary bandaid to the problem.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment