CPR Renewal and Physical Limitations

[Cricket183, BSN, RN]

I am at the point where I can no longer physically provide direct patient care (haven't been able to for several years).  I have multiple health conditions that make it all but impossible, however, at only 55 my mind is still sharp and I'd like to look into remote work-case management, utilization review, or technical/medical writing-all of which require an active license.  As such, I need to renew my CPR certification.  The course isn't an issue but the check off is.  I'm not able to get down and kneel on my knees at all.  I have RA and currently need both knees and my left hip replaced.  I also have difficulty preforming chest compressions as I have CRPS in my upper body (I can do it but it's extremely painful).  So how do I renew my CPR?  Can I ask for accommodations?  I won't be looking for a job where I will actually preform CPR but CPR is a license requirement.

[Emergent, RN]

I had a friend who just couldn't satisfy the computerized dummy with her chest compressions. It was the course that the hospital had started doing, in lieu of an old fashioned, in person course. Finally, I think somebody helped her do that, with the approval of her manager. In the hospital, there's always somebody stronger to do the compressions, there'salways a team around. She is just a very petite lady, and didn't have the strength to make the machine happy.

[chare]

I'm unsure whether it's still available, but the American Heart Association created the BLS Advisor option for those that passed the cognitive portion of the BLS program but were unable to perform the hands on skills demonstration.

best wishes.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I'm with OP, I don't do well in a kneeling position for an hour, however, if someone was down and needed CPR I'd be ready to go for two minutes of compressions. In reality, since I hit my fifties there are tons of younger and stronger folk lined up to do compressions, while the more seasoned nurses are doing procedures, and coordinating resources in a code. 

In Canada you have to renew BLS yearly, and after 35 years either I know it or I don't. There's not much point in getting down on the floor. I've asked for accommodation to put my dummy on a table for the last 3 years or so.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Since the hospital switched to the auto dummy CPR I couldn't pass either.  I would get tired out while it said no air, too much air, not deep enough etc.  Tip I learned when the robot says do you want to continue don't!  It won't help you.  I thought it would, but all it does is tire you out.  Just start over.

In the end, I told my supervisor I couldn't pass and she told me just to have a coworker help me so yeah that's what it's come to.  We have to pass by a robot dummy!  That coworker couldn't get the dummy to pass either, but a guy from ICU was around and finally he did the compressions and got it to pass me.  It is so ridiculous because they have a team of people in the hospital and also they have a compression machine device they use in the ICU and bring to codes!

Last year I worked 2020, I told God I was quitting if I didn't pass the CPR dummy.  The whole time it told me no air, not enough air, too much air, not deep enough, too deep and yet it passed me on the first try.  Crazy!  I couldn't believe it and I really wanted an excuse to quit! LOL  I kept going till the end of the year and  finally gave my notice when I realized management was not going to fix the short staffing.  I have no regrets!

As to the OP situation, I would call around to the CPR training centers and explain your difficulties and see if they could help you pass the damn dummy.  Hopefully they will accommodate you.

 

[feelix, RN]

brandy1017 said:

Since the hospital switched to the auto dummy CPR I couldn't pass either.  I would get tired out while it said no air, too much air, not deep enough etc.  Tip I learned when the robot says do you want to continue don't!  It won't help you.  I thought it would, but all it does is tire you out.  Just start over.

In the end, I told my supervisor I couldn't pass and she told me just to have a coworker help me so yeah that's what it's come to.  We have to pass by a robot dummy!  That coworker couldn't get the dummy to pass either, but a guy from ICU was around and finally he did the compressions and got it to pass me.  It is so ridiculous because they have a team of people in the hospital and also they have a compression machine device they use in the ICU and bring to codes!

Last year I worked 2020, I told God I was quitting if I didn't pass the CPR dummy.  The whole time it told me no air, not enough air, too much air, not deep enough, too deep and yet it passed me on the first try.  Crazy!  I couldn't believe it and I really wanted an excuse to quit! LOL  I kept going till the end of the year and  finally gave my notice when I realized management was not going to fix the short staffing.  I have no regrets!

As to the OP situation, I would call around to the CPR training centers and explain your difficulties and see if they could help you pass the damn dummy.  Hopefully they will accommodate you.

 

Please get your certificate from an outside provider. It will cost about $60, but save you the trouble. I have always been given accommodation due to my physical condition.

[SuzanneRNLA]

I have bilateral knee replacements, the last one in 2016. Since then, I've had to renew my CPR 4 times. They've always provided accommodation by using a low table, rather than the floor for CPR on the dummies. Yes, the new auto dummies are harder, but I found if I positioned it at the edge of the table, it was doable, so I always passed. I just let the instructor know about the knee limitations prior to the start of class.