Should a nurse perform CPR to someone outside of the healthcare setting?

Nurses Safety

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  1. should you still perform cpr?

    • 93
      yes
    • 6
      no

99 members have participated

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I might if I believed circumstances supported statistically strong odds of a good outcome. I haven't ever had occasion to thus far. I hope I never do.

Sadala, ADN, RN

356 Posts

Specializes in Med Surg.

Unless the person was clearly dead (and I've had that happen btw - found someone dead with extensive lividity) - I would do CPR (unless there was a DNR).

And if I had a loved one who was not attended to by a bystander with knowledge then God help that person if there was any question that there might have been a save.

Read this and then explain to me how you could just stand there.

Cardiac survival rate in Seattle rises again

Specializes in ICU.

I like what the latest ACLS guidelines say. I got so tickled I went into a crazy laughing fit while I was studying for the exam. This is from the 2010 manual page 90, if anyone cares: "The resuscitation team must make a conscientious and competent effort to give patients "a trial of CPR and ACLS," provided the patient had not expressed a decision to forego resuscitative efforts and the victim is not obviously dead (eg, rigor mortis, decomposition, hemisection, decapitation)."

Okay, so... running with those guidelines, anyone but a decapitated, cut in half person who's obviously decomposing is pretty much fair game for CPR in the field. I really enjoyed how they defined obviously dead... maybe I just have a really morbid sense of humor. I think these guidelines are reasonable and I would absolutely give someone in the field a chance... as long as they weren't decapitated! Can you even imagine some idiot trying to perform CPR on a decapitated person? :roflmao:

kaydensmom01

475 Posts

I am always curious about what to do if you have your children with you, because I heard that once you start CPR you are required by law to stay and continue until the EMT arrives or other relief? Is it a long enough time frame to worry about leaving your 2 year old by your side and hoping he will stay, or does help arrive fast? I have always been curious. I am sure if I needed to perform it somewhere such as a grocery store or restaurant I would, but I obviously would not consider stopping at an accident scene to help if my child was with me.

wooh, BSN, RN

1 Article; 4,383 Posts

Can you even imagine some idiot trying to perform CPR on a decapitated person? :roflmao:

Well obviously while I was doing CPR, I would direct another bystander to collect the severed body part and put it on ice so it could be reattached at the hospital....

miasmom

103 Posts

I have done to nany times at work just to see more suffering. I also watched done on family member who wsnted to live to be 100. Outcome did not change. I understand not wanting to give up hope. Neber had to do it outside work and prsy I never hsve to. Choking is one thing compressions is different. I tell my kids if it my time to do not make suffer. I will haunt you.

Well obviously while I was doing CPR, I would direct another bystander to collect the severed body part and put it on ice so it could be reattached at the hospital....

Better bring some Febreze along for the decomp...

As for me, I'd prefer CPR if for no other reason that I'm bloody well going to get that LVN license one way or another! :nurse:

----- Dave

BlueLightRN

150 Posts

I would do compression only CPR on anyone who I came across collapsed or who I saw collapse. Especially a child I would likely not put my mouth to any stranger's though. I carry a mask usually but not always. I would try to help though.

BlueLightRN

150 Posts

I do not stop at accident scenes for my own personal safety. I do not need to be the next casualty of the road. I'm sorry if that upsets some people but I don't feel it's safe to get out and get in the road when there's an accident. I've never seen an accident bad enough I thought someone would need CPR or was in danger of loss of life or anything so maybe in that circumstance I would stop but I'd have to really feel someone was going to die if I did not.

T-Bird78

1,007 Posts

Aren't we supposed to? And Good Samaritan laws protect lay people, not medically trained healthcare professionals. It does cover us as long as we're not functioning outside our scope of practice, so no thoracotomy will be performed by me! Besides, I couldn't sit by and watch someone lie on the sidewalk and not do anything.

BlueLightRN

150 Posts

We are not obligated to. I've never come upon a scene where someone was lying on the sidewalk. Mostly just fender benders and stuff. If I saw a person clearly hurt I would stop.

amberella123

75 Posts

Some of the comments I've read really break my heart. And kuddos to those of you who would do CPR in any setting with no reservations. I couldn't even imagine walking away or standing there not helping anyone who is in need of CPR. This really hits home with me after having to perform CPR on my own husband who suffered "the widow maker" MI and dropped dead on my living room floor in front of our 12 yr old daughter. I would hope that if he had went down out in the community and there was a nurse around, he/she would intervene. CPR is not a joke. It can work. My husband is living and well almost 4 years later. His survival rate according to his cardiologist and research I've done was less than 3%. They nicknamed him "miracle man" at the heart hospital he was transferred to.[/quote']

I'm so glad he's ok! For you and your daughter.

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