uh...CPR question

[ISRN]

Hello!:)I must be overthinking,but all of a sudden found myself puzzled by the following:In the event of a respiratory arrest, do we start compressions? Or do we administer oxygen? I've googled this and have not yet found one definite answer..Mauve someone could share from experience?Much appreciated!:)

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Hello!:)I must be overthinking,but all of a sudden found myself puzzled by the following:In the event of a respiratory arrest, do we start compressions? Or do we administer oxygen? I've googled this and have not yet found one definite answer..Mauve someone could share from experience?Much appreciated!:)

Think about these situations. If someone goes into respiratory arrest, what is happening? If the patient isn't breathing, what is oxygen going to do? It doesn't matter if you're blowing 100% FiO2 in someone's face... if they're not breathing, it's not going to get to the lungs. What kind of answers did you find on google? I'm having a hard time thinking that you couldn't find a definitive answer... for respiratory arrest, you administer rescue breaths. If there is a pulse, you do rescue breaths only and if there is not a pulse, you begin CPR. Why would you start compressions on someone with a pulse?