CPR on bed.

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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.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

My LTC doesnt have a crash cart.... Most- but not all- of my residents are DNR. but now I am wondering about those who are not DNR and want "everything" done. (even if they are 98 and miserable!).

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Specializes in Sub Acute Rehab/ Oncology Med-Surg.
My LTC doesnt have a crash cart.... Most- but not all- of my residents are DNR. but now I am wondering about those who are not DNR and want "everything" done. (even if they are 98 and miserable!).

No crash cart? A defibrillator at least?

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Specializes in Trauma & Emergency.

I've never heard of any care facility that housed patients without Advanced directives that did not have a crash cart. What are you going to do when somebody codes? Stand there because you don't have proper equipment? I don't think the patients family would like that too much. But back to the OP..if there was a crash cart and the backboard and ambu bag were missing..chances are they were used in a previous code and never replaced. This caused for firing of a nurse and I believe she had her license suspended. Obviously she didn't check the crash cart for the proper items at the beginning of her shift. All facilities have different policies so be sure to consult your P & P to find out your policy. Your director of nursing education (Inservice) administrator may also be helpful if you need clarification. Would rather know now before it happens, than when it actually does.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Almost every crash cart has a board for placing under the patients chest to facilitate compressions. If you cannot find a board, use the foot board of the bed or a slider board.

And on a funny note, when I worked in this large inner city ED in Houston, next to the ED was an obs unit for short stay, observation patients. Reggie (the night charge nurse) and I got called over there for a code one day. When we arrived, no one was doing CPR. Reggie said to one of the techs who was standing there to start CPR and he said he could not. Reggie said why not and they guy said "my card expired". I thought Reggie was going to strangle this guy.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Most crash carts have a board...I would have used that if it were available. But, would not move the person to the floor. I keep thinking about Michael Jackson...his physician did compressions on the bed, also, and you see what happened... he could have died, anyhow, but I think that he needed a stable board to lay on.

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Most crash carts have a board...I would have used that if it were available. But, would not move the person to the floor. I keep thinking about Michael Jackson...his physician did compressions on the bed, also, and you see what happened... he could have died, anyhow, but I think that he needed a stable board to lay on.

Yes, I also thought about this a bit.

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Specializes in psychiatric nursing, med/surg adult care.

At one point, I had 2 simultaneous codes within my shift. While the code99 team was on their way, I used stainless steel food tray (bottom side up) as back board upon initiating cardiac resuscitation. It worked quite well.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

We have a board that we can also use to slide them onto a gurney for hosp. transport. Each wing has a cpr mask. thats about it!!!. Scary.

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Hospital Bed does not go down ( they are OLD beds, Hill-Rom: Century Series). We have the CPR board but head is up and wont come down. Anyone know of a CPR release for these old beds or would you transfer the patient to the ground if the bed wasnt working>?

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I'm thankful for this post and thread.

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The OP said this was an LTAC. That is not the same thing as LTC/Nursing Home. If it is really an LTAC there is NO reason it shouldn't have a fully stocked crash cart with a backboard since you are dealing with critically ill patients. In an emergency there should be something hard that can be placed under the patient to provide a firm surface for CPR. I wouldn't move them to the floor and risk injuring myself or the patient in the process.

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