Cannot seem to pass skilled portion of BLS

[thatgirl37]

I have went back three times now and I just can seem to do good chest compressions. My program starts in a month and I have three months to get certified but I am beginning to think that I won't ever be able to do it. I'm not sure if it's my size (I'm 5'2" and 100lbs on a good day) or if it's my upper body strength.

Has anyone been through something similar? Were you ever able to finally pass?

I realize that some might say that nursing may not be for me... but I've wanted to be a nurse since I was 9 years and visited my first nursing home so I'd really appreciate not receiving those comments

[thatgirl37]

I was able to find another class about an hour away. They put the mannequin on the floor and I was able to pass the skills portion!!!

Thank you all for your advice!!!!!!!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I was able to find another class about an hour away. They put the mannequin on the floor and I was able to pass the skills portion!!!

Thank you all for your advice!!!!!!!!

Wonderful! But do future students a favor and make sure someone above the first instructor knows about your terrible experience!

[wildnursebrendan]

If you are on your tiptoes doing compressions that isn't good body mechanics and it's not sustainable. The last code I was in in our emergency department I had to do compressions like that because the gurney just doesn't go down far enough, and I'm 5'11". If I was your size I would have done what I've seen short nurses do before, and jump up there and straddle the patient. In class I think it's hard to picture what you would actually do, but if someone isn't breathing and you need to take a turn on compressions, you would probably jump up there and make it happen. Just remember to allow full recoil, don't stay leaned into them too much. I recently did CPR with a monitor attached to the mannequin giving real-time feedback. I wasn't allowing recoil nearly enough.

*Just read you passed. congrats.