Cpr

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Specializes in Cardiolgy.

I am attending a resus module at uni, and they were talking about how research suggests that your dominant hand should be the one on the patients chest.

I never do CPR this way around, my dominant hand is on top, talking with a lot of other nurses, this seems to be the case, I think we've maybe trained our selves to do this, when we used to have to measure hand placement, tracing round the ribs.

Now we can just guess for the middle, I'm sure new commers to CPR will be using their dominat hand, but for many of us it seems to feel wrong.

Just wondered what everyone else does?

I go on my ILS update next month, and I'll try to practice both ways on 'annie'

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Specializes in med/surg.

Yup, my dominant hand is on top too! I tried the other way & couldn't do effective compressions - besides when the adrenaline hits in a full on, real situation you'll just do whatever, without thinking & my guess is that'll be dominant hand on top.

I have to say I did both ILS & BLS in the uK & I don't remember being told that.

Hehehe - I wonder how many others stopped & tried it out when they read your post - I know I did! :-D

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Having seen one case, thankfully not mine, of ribs cracked due to chest compressions it makes more sense to me NOT to use the dominant hand as your strength during the crises situation can be increased. Though for a longer length of time I can see it be less tiring.

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Specializes in ICU.

Had to try, so have just 'resussed' the cushion on our sofa and automatically used my dominant hand on top.

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Hmmm. Dominant hand next to the chest here, more 'feel' that way for me. There was no preference given in our training. Why do people use their non-dominant hand?

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.

I also have dominate hand next to the chest.

I'd be interested to hear the source of their research, it's not something I've heard of and I am an ALS instructor. In general the quality of the evidence in resuscitation is not good so it would be interesting where they got their data from and how they carried out the trials.

To be honest I really don't think it matters which had is down as long as you are giving compressions, you are going to tire after about 2 minutes regardless and should be preparing to change the person compressing to maintain good quality compressions.

I would say go with whatever hand feels comfortable

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Specializes in Cardiolgy.

I don't have the full reffs in front of me, as I'm at work, but I'm sure they came from ILCOR. Will search it out and post it here.

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Specializes in med/surg.
Had to try, so have just 'resussed' the cushion on our sofa and automatically used my dominant hand on top.

:chuckle

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Specializes in Cardiolgy.

the desk at work has been well and truly resussed.... i wonder how many computer desks and chairs across the country, are now vitims of this abuse?

but it seems to be the only way to tell which hand you use!

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i used to use my non dominant hand to trace the ribs then place my dominant hand on the spot, but you are right had to try it out to see what i do normally, of course it changes constantly.

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Specializes in Advanced Practice, surgery.
I don't have the full reffs in front of me, as I'm at work, but I'm sure they came from ILCOR. Will search it out and post it here.

Really now that surprises me, only because for the last ILCOR guidlines implementation I had just finished working as a resuscitation officer so I thought I'd read them from cover to cover.

Must have missed that particular gem

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Specializes in Cardiolgy.

sharrie

its in ILCOR's 2005 recommendations its from a level 6 study (manikin) and the recommendation:

"for people to be taught to place the heal of the dominant hand in the centre of the chest, with non dominant hand on top"

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