AEDs and SNFs

Nurses Safety

Published

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. :-)

Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
These are people trained in business administration, and most have no medical or nursing background.

The vast majority of my administrators are nurses, even the "higher ups." All the way to the VP of the company. I think every place is different.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
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....

You are right! If a family members dies and anyone asks, and it is locked up, bing! I'd have a prepared way to smash down that door when needed. There is no way I would stand by and watch someone die because the lifesaving device is locked up. If you are up to it, speak up! You might be saving a life. As a 13 year medic I'm tired of showing up just a little too late. Zap Vfib!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
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.

Yes but as nurses WE are the advocates for patient safety and survival. If you are highest medical degree there than you need to stand up for patient safety and not take no for an answer.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.
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....

Sounds like the administrators need some education. What could you possibly do wrong with an AED?

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Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.
You are right! If a family members dies and anyone asks, and it is locked up, bing! I'd have a prepared way to smash down that door when needed. There is no way I would stand by and watch someone die because the lifesaving device is locked up. If you are up to it, speak up! You might be saving a life. As a 13 year medic I'm tired of showing up just a little too late. Zap Vfib!

The corporation I work for is HUGE! This is a corporation wide decision, not just in my building. It's insane but the only thing that will change their minds is when they get slapped with litigation because of their decision. It's the only "speak up" they hear.

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Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.
Sounds like the administrators need some education. What could you possibly do wrong with an AED?

I know, right? It's insane! but as I said...there is no changing this policy. Believe me, we've tried. They are so afraid of litigation that saving lives is the last thing they think of.

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Specializes in ED.

I wonder if someone was to ask the question to their local news program. Did you know that grandma at. Xxx nursing home has no access to an AED. BUT if she went to the mall, elementary school, airport, court house, Hilton hotel. She would. How this would effect change.

As a paramedic that runs 911 calls. 24/48. I was appalled to learn that this that need it most don't have it available

They might even have one af kinko's for all I know

I think this is crazy

Grandma deserves rapid Defib

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Yes but as nurses WE are the advocates for patient safety and survival. If you are highest medical degree there than you need to stand up for patient safety and not take no for an answer.

As nurses, we don't have medical degrees. And we are far from being the highest degree in healthcare provision there. All of these places have medical directors, and each resident has a physician. To act as medical director and/or to gain admitting privileges, the doctors are told what they can do and what they can't, and are very much aware of whether or not a facility does BLS with AED.

Nurses are advocates for patient safety, but we are up against corporations so large and decision makers so far removed from us (physically and philosophically) who hold so much financial power that we might as well not even be there. How delightful to believe that not taking no for an answer will help. Try that in some of these places and see how long it takes them to get rid of you. Trust me, they have policies and the legal technicalities of not doing AED all worked out. As long as their documented procedural stance is to call 911, they are covered when Grandma dies in fribrillation that could have been reversed.

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Specializes in ED.

Interesting, That a place without medical personnel can provide rapid defib. And the SNF. CANT. Wish. Medicare paid for granny to stay at the Marriott. Security has AEDs. And are trained in CPR and first aid. Guess that why they call themselves loss prevention

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Grandma deserves rapid Defib

And so do her visitors and the staff members who take care of her.

This isn't only about the residents. Anyone can keel over at any time.

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