CPR after rigor mortis

ERNurse752, RN · Feb 15, 2005

We don't start CPR on someone when rigor has already set in, since there's no point in trying bring someone back to life who's already been dead for that long. What happened that you're asking? I'm curious now.

Long term care scope of practice may vary by state, so you can check with your state board of nursing...other than that, I'm not sure.

HealinghandsRN · Feb 15, 2005

Well, our nurse educator is teaching that u start cpr on anyone who is not a dnr "NO MATTER WHAT" She said "I don't care what anyone thinks how long they passed, if no DNR start cpr. Personally that does not sound correct to me. But If I am going to stay in this type of setting I need to learn the regulations for myself and not just take someone elses word for it.

We don't start CPR on someone when rigor has already set in, since there's no point in trying bring someone back to life who's already been dead for that long. What happened that you're asking? I'm curious now.
L...ong term care scope of practice may vary by state, so you can check with your state board of nursing...other than that, I'm not sure.

Blackcat99 · Feb 15, 2005

:rotfl: Start CPR on someone who has rigor mortis??? :rotfl: That's hysterical :chuckle :rotfl:

stevierae · Feb 15, 2005

:rotfl: Start CPR on someone who has rigor mortis??? :rotfl: That's hysterical :chuckle :rotfl:

No kidding! Is the nurse educator whose "policy" is "If no DNR start CPR" brain-dead herself? :uhoh21:

Salty1 · Feb 15, 2005

:rotfl: Start CPR on someone who has rigor mortis??? :rotfl: That's hysterical :chuckle :rotfl:

Only if the patient's name is Lazarus.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 15, 2005

Rigor mortis doesn't even set in until a person has been dead for AT LEAST two hours.......WTF is this teacher thinking??!! :uhoh3: .

HealinghandsRN · Feb 15, 2005

Scary to work in a facility in which the nurse educator doesn't know what she is talking about. I found some information that says--If u know a person has been dead rigor mortis etc.....performing cpr is illegal and instead can be charged with abusing a deceased person. interesting huh?

Rigor mortis doesn't even set in until a person has been dead for AT LEAST two hours.......WTF is this teacher thinking??!! .

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2005

It sounds like the educator is just trying to CYA in case a family tries to sue.

donmomofnine · Feb 15, 2005

We don't provide CPR at our facility, but when we did I always thought it was ironic that an RN could pronounce someone dead, yet some of my staff felt we still had to jump on them and do CPR!

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Feb 15, 2005

It sounds like the educator is just trying to CYA in case a family tries to sue.

Yep. :rolleyes:

Wow.. that is the most insane thing I've heard in awhile ! Frightening. :stone

fuerza757 · Feb 15, 2005

During a new hire orientation the staff educator mentioned that cpr should be perform on any patient without a DNR order, even if Rig had set in ??

At another facililty a patient coded sometime during the night was found in the AM with rig....CPR was not performed per nurses judgement call. Plus postural rig....made it impossible to obtain an airway, all joints where contracted...?

If it is a facilities policy how can it be performed ?

Isn't there some kind of standard that protects us against this practice ?

We don't provide CPR at our facility, but when we did I always thought it was ironic that an RN could pronounce someone dead, yet some of my staff felt we still had to jump on them and do CPR!