CPR on bed.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Oct 26, 2009

did the pt code in the bed? if you don't have a board on your crash cart, pull the headboard or footboard off the bed, stick it under the patient, and start compressions.

Katie5 · Oct 26, 2009

Yes from what I gathered, the pt coded in bed. I pretty much doubt the crash cart had that. But I learned something new now- to use the heador foot board.Thanks on that.

systoly · Oct 26, 2009

Too little info. Did the bed have a matress with a CPR setting? Anyway, if patient is not perfusing gotta do something, if necessary to move patient try to minimize possible injury. LTAC did not have backboard?

Katie5 · Oct 26, 2009

Too little info. Did the bed have a matress with a CPR setting? Anyway, if patient is not perfusing gotta do something, if necessary to move patient try to minimize possible injury. LTAC did not have backboard?

I wasn't there when this occured. Butfrom what I was told there was none.

89**11 · Oct 26, 2009

Usually in the hospital the bed has a CPR setting. If the patient was in the bed I would have proceeded to do CPR in the bed. If the assistant would have switched with the nurse or assisted the nurse to get the board than use it but at the moment you do what you have to.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

I would never move a pt from a bed to the floor for a code. In fact, as my hospital, it is expected that we attempt to try to get a pt off the floor and onto a bed. Every emergency cart or crash cart I've seen comes with a back board to put under the pt.

Katie5 · Oct 26, 2009

From what I was told, this crash cart did not have that, an ambu-bag or a mouth piece.And this was told to me, so I cannot in all honesty vouch for the accuracy of the story. just wanted more information on the protocol of cpr when such happens.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Oct 26, 2009

From what I was told, this crash cart did not have that, an ambu-bag or a mouth piece.And this was told to me, so I cannot in all honesty vouch for the accuracy of the story. just wanted more information on the protocol of cpr when such happens.

yikes. where was this?

if there is no mouth piece or ambu bag, good high quality chest compressions are the most important part of CPR anyways, just open the airway. you can though, in a pinch, use any kind of plastic (like a bag) to sheild your mouth--but there is no one way valve, and you'd be wasting valuable heart time to make it. in a situation like that, i would hope just good chest compressions were initated and the airway was taken over when EMS arrived.

wooh, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2009

If the cart doesn't have a backboard, more than likely then it's intended for the head or footboard to be used. Most will come off, ESPECIALLY on the older beds that are frequently used in LTC.

Would NEVER put them on the floor. As said above, if they're on the floor, you get them up. Coding a patient is hard enough, at least let's save our back and knees and do it at a reasonable height. We aren't paramedics after all! :)

NotFlo · Oct 26, 2009

Okay this situation happened in a LTAC. What would have been a correct procedure? Relocate the patient to the floor or continue CPR on bed.
Bear in the mind, nurse was a first timer her helper was in shock ( panic), and she did this all by herself. Opinions pls.

The crash cart should have a board on it. I work in LTC (not even LTAC) and all of the crash carts I have ever seen in any facility have had boards.

Correct procedure is if pt is on air mattress (probably half ours are at this point) pull the hose (there is a giant red CPR sign above the hose with a quick easy diagram to read) and deflate mattress (takes about a second once you pull that CPR hose out), slide board under and start compressions.

Someone should be responsible for making sure the crash cart is kept stocked. At my facility, third shift nurses have to sign off that it was audited and is properly stocked every night.

If for some reason there really wasn't a board I can't see moving a coding pt. to the floor either.

allnurses Guide · Oct 27, 2009

Are you trying to work out what you should do in future? If so, check your facility's P&P manual. It doesn't really matter what we tell you, you should go by what the employer tells you in order to CYA.

Saying "what should she have done" is a dangerous phrase. Sounds like she did what she could do, on her own. Hindsight is always 20/20.