AEDs and SNFs

[badphish]

I found it interesting. That SNFs. In my area do not have AEDs. The mall has them, walmart. Has them, southwest airlines has them. The local schools have them. The police carry them. Why do not provide them are most at risk population. AEDs are user friendly. Well within the skill level of CNAs LPNs and RNs. I wonder if the families know their love ones may have a better chance of resuscitation during a field trip at the mall than in their bed at the SNF.

Discuss. :-)

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

I work SNF and we have one. It is locked up in the administrator's office and we aren't allowed to use it. We have yearly CPR training that INCLUDES AED training. yet we aren't allowed to use it. They are so afraid we'd do something wrong and cause a lawsuit. Personally? I'm waiting on the lawsuit we get for NOT having one....

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I live and work in a very large metropolitan area in Texas.

I have worked in multiple SNFs/nursing homes/LTC facilities over the past few years, and not one single place had defibrillators. The people who operate these facilities want staff to immediately call EMS as you are initiating a code, and they feel that an AED might be a delay.

In addition, the nursing homes in my area conduct multiple fire drills, so everybody knows what to do if/when a fire occurs. However, I think that code drills and mock codes would be a good idea in these same facilities, because all of the nursing home codes in which I've participated have been disorganized and chaotic.

[SummitRN, BSN, RN]

The people who operate these facilities want staff to immediately call EMS as you are initiating a code, and they feel that an AED might be a delay.

This shows a critical lack of understanding. AHA stresses EARLY ACCESS with the most key points being both 911 and AED.

Early Recognition

Early 911

Early CPR

Early Defib

Early ALS

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012016

[LegzRN]

This shows a critical lack of understanding. AHA stresses EARLY ACCESS with the most key points being both 911 and AED.

Early Recognition

Early 911

Early CPR

Early Defib

Early ALS

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012016

Agreed. I can't believe you don't have an AED or your AED is locked up and you're not allowed to use it. Unless the local EMS station is located in the SNF, not using an AED is delaying ALS care and making their prognosis a whole lot more grim when they arrive at the ED.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Are you serious? Is this what we've become as a profession...more afraid of being sued than saving a life? Flo's rolling over in her damned grave.

[Grandy]

I have no idea what an "SNF" is, must be an abbreviation unique to the USA. But as far as AEDs are concerned I would strongly aqdvise you to check out the American Heart Association website for some excellent resources, perhaps you could printo off some pages and discreetly leave them laying where your supervisor's eyes may see them. http://www.americanheart.org/

[TakeOne]

Are you serious? Is this what we've become as a profession...more afraid of being sued than saving a life? Flo's rolling over in her damned grave.

It's not nursing as a profession that's having problems with possible liability issues. It's the administrators and the empty corporate skulls that run these facilities who are afraid of law suits and penalties that prevent us from using the training which they themselves mandate:CPR with AED.

[TakeOne]

I have no idea what an "SNF" is, must be an abbreviation unique to the USA. But as far as AEDs are concerned I would strongly aqdvise you to check out the American Heart Association website for some excellent resources, perhaps you could printo off some pages and discreetly leave them laying where your supervisor's eyes may see them. http://www.americanheart.org/

SNF = Skilled Nursing Facility.

There is no reason to copy the AHA recommendations and leave them around for our supervisors to see. AHA BLS training is the only training recognized for health care providers in this area, and AHA BLS/AED training is required to work in most facilities. Our supervisors and managers already know the recommendations and agree with them, but the decisions to use them or not comes from the idiots in the offices of the corporations that run facilities. They are risk averse, AED is, to them, "risky," thus in their eyes not using it is better safe than sorry. I know. It makes no logistical sense. But it makes financial sense to them.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

It's not nursing as a profession that's having problems with possible liability issues. It's the administrators and the empty corporate skulls that run these facilities who are afraid of law suits and penalties that prevent us from using the training which they themselves mandate:CPR with AED.

But who are these administrators? Most of them ARE nurses, right? And I think my profession's autonomy is negated when we allow corporate skulls to rule us.

[TakeOne]

But who are these administrators? Most of them ARE nurses, right? And I think my profession's autonomy is negated when we allow corporate skulls to rule us.

These are people trained in business administration, and most have no medical or nursing background.

[Lizzie21]

That is crazy that there are no AEDs there. I makes me nervous just thinking about that. Have you brought this up to employers? I feel that they should be there considering AEDs are everywhere else.