CPR card question

[brokenroads27]

this is probably a stupid question but there seems to be such a thin line between cpr certification and first aid certification. i took a BLS class for healthcare providers from the american heart association a few months ago. my certification card only says im certified in CPR and AED but it doesn't include first aid on the card. so this means im ONLY certified in CPR not first aid? i just thought it was hard to believe because as student nurses, shouldnt we know first aid too?

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

For nursing school they're looking specifically for CPR certification. My course didn't cover basic first aid (like how to stop bleeding, burn care, etc). It's not really covered in nursing school either. I had to fill in that information on my own.

[CuriousMe]

this is probably a stupid question but there seems to be such a thin line between cpr certification and first aid certification. i took a BLS class for healthcare providers from the american heart association a few months ago. my certification card only says im certified in CPR and AED but it doesn't include first aid on the card. so this means im ONLY certified in CPR not first aid? i just thought it was hard to believe because as student nurses, shouldnt we know first aid too?

Most of first aid is really common sense, it's what laypeople do before they get to a medical professional. Much of it is covered in nursing education, such as what would you do if your patient was bleeding from a laceration, you'd put pressure on the bleeding....well that's what they teach in first aid as well.

Truly though, if any health care professional claimed "first aid" it would be first responders like EMT's and paramedics.