CPR in school

KKEGS, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

It looks like School Health is the only distributor of the kit so you may be out of luck. Does your school have a PTSA type group? I had a certain dollar amount each year from the PTSA that I could use for health office supplies other than bandaids and ice packs, etc. We used ours for socks and underwear, small bottles of water to send on field trips, stock tylenol and ibuprofen for staff members, etc.

CrazySchoolNurse, LPN · Oct 30, 2017

We do have a group like that but I believe all the funding goes towards helping the families and tuition.

I don't think they ever did anything like that for the clinic. This is my first year here at the school so I am not sure what happened in the past.

So far everything that I have gotten for the clinic has come out of my budget (which I have no idea what my budget is... sadly) or my own pocket.

They do have the maniquins here for me to teach CPR to the teachers, but I think for the students it would be better to use the CPR in school kit as more than 3 can do it at time.

I know in the long run it will pay for itself but it's trying to sell it to the school that is going to be the hardest.

Thank you for your help KKEGS!!

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

We do have a group like that but I believe all the funding goes towards helping the families and tuition.
I don't think they ever did anything like that for the clinic. This is my first year here at the school so I am not sure what happened in the past.
So far everything that I have gotten for the clinic has come out of my budget (which I have no idea what my budget is... sadly) or my own pocket.
They do have the maniquins here for me to teach CPR to the teachers, but I think for the students it would be better to use the CPR in school kit as more than 3 can do it at time.
I know in the long run it will pay for itself but it's trying to sell it to the school that is going to be the hardest.
Thank you for your help KKEGS!!

See, CPR supplies are overall expensive and I am not trained to teach CPR. I pay an outside group to come in and train staff for me, and I've also had them come and do training for our juniors and seniors. They bring the supplies, issue the cards, it works well. Cost is about $20-$30 per person based on number of people I need to train.

OldDude · Oct 30, 2017

See, CPR supplies are overall expensive and I am not trained to teach CPR. I pay an outside group to come in and train staff for me, and I've also had them come and do training for our juniors and seniors. They bring the supplies, issue the cards, it works well. Cost is about $20-$30 per person based on number of people I need to train.

...the ONLY way to go. You incur no liability and don't have to endure the training sessions:wacky:

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

...the ONLY way to go. You incur no liability and don't have to endure the training sessions:wacky:

You get me, OldDude .

CrazySchoolNurse, LPN · Oct 31, 2017

Jen- Elizabeth and OldDude, you are right it is expensive. I am CPR instructor for AHA (it was part of my contract to become certified), I wanted to become independent of a training center and start my own and the cost is absolutely insane!! I thought it would be more cost effective for both me and the school, boy was I wrong!!

For the students they are not getting certified unless they want to be, they just get a certificate which is part of the curriculum in the school. The teachers on the other hand have to be certified and I do the class for them at a discounted price. Since I work for the school and they paid for me to become an instructor. I do the class right after school is over. They do have the opportunity to do it outside of the school but it will cost them a whole lot more.

With the CPR in school training Kit it has everything in it to help teach the kids on their level. I already have the mannequin for CPR for the heartsavers course but I only have a limited number of them meaning 2 or 3. So to teach a class of 15-20 that is just not going to work out very well.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

Jen- Elizabeth and OldDude, you are right it is expensive. I am CPR instructor for AHA (it was part of my contract to become certified), I wanted to become independent of a training center and start my own and the cost is absolutely insane!! I thought it would be more cost effective for both me and the school, boy was I wrong!!
For the students they are not getting certified unless they want to be, they just get a certificate which is part of the curriculum in the school. The teachers on the other hand have to be certified and I do the class for them at a discounted price. Since I work for the school and they paid for me to become an instructor. I do the class right after school is over. They do have the opportunity to do it outside of the school but it will cost them a whole lot more.
With the CPR in school training Kit it has everything in it to help teach the kids on their level. I already have the mannequin for CPR for the heartsavers course but I only have a limited number of them meaning 2 or 3. So to teach a class of 15-20 that is just not going to work out very well.

Understood, OP. My school was willing to help me get certified, but I did the math with the cost of my certification and the supplies I needed to teach a decent size class (15-20) and the cost was huge. It just wasn't going to be worth it until I did it for at least 4-5 years. And the outside instructor I use is just wonderful and affordable.

My school does also cover the cost for staff in full, meaning staff does not pay to be trained. (But training is only required for our sports coaches; for other staff is optional, though many partake).

CrazySchoolNurse, LPN · Oct 31, 2017

Since this is a private school everything has to be paid for. The only staff or facility that does not pay for the training are those that are on the crisis response team. All the others have to pay for the training.

The good thing I found about the school kit is that it is all inclusive, so it will pay for itself in the long run. So whether I stay with the school or if I ever leave the next person who comes on doesn't have to be certified to teach the kids. All the materials will already be here.

OldDude · Oct 31, 2017

I hear ya. But the elephant standing in the room is...anyone who has taught CPR knows, with the limited time and equipment, and varied characteristics of the learner, that a large number of those "certified" have no idea what they are doing and would be the last person you'd want to help you if your heart stopped beating. So really, in many cases, this is just checking a box on some organization agenda. I was AHA certified for several years with another employer and it was one of the dumbest things I ever agreed to do!! Some people enjoy "teaching" CPR...not me.

I understand you have a contractual requirement here so you have limited options...I'm just tossing out my opinion - which I "occasionally" share on this forum. :)

CrazySchoolNurse, LPN · Oct 31, 2017

I agree OldDude, I taught my first CPR class about 2 weeks ago and had to turn someone away cause they couldn't grasp the concepts of anything that I was teaching. Not to mention this person was physically unable to preform any of the tasks. I felt bad that they paid for the class and I had no choice but to fail them.

While I am with the school I will make a decision if it is something that I want to maintain after I leave (if I leave)

AdobeRN · Oct 31, 2017

It is part of my job requirement to be a CPR instructor - probably only part of my job that I actually hate doing With all of our recent budget issues I was hoping admin would make it a voluntary thing - there are enough nurses in my district that actually enjoy doing it that it makes no sense money wise to pay for all of us to be certified.