Did CPR for the first time today.

Specialties School

Published

Student passed out on PE doing fitness gram, was having abnormal breathing and not responding. Called 911, operator gave instructions to do CPR and just did it, 3 mins, not stopping. Other people around me were freaking out, no one wanted to take over, so I kept going. EMTs came, took it over, student was fine after a while. She has done this before, basically anxiety/panic attacks, and parents are trying to find the cause of it. She went home, and was fine after all issue, talking and smiling. People were telling me good job, and was said I was very calm doing the issue, but in all honestly, I was trying to keep it together while everyone is panicking and I know I'll freak out later at home.

You are a hero. It may be the job, but it doesn't change your super hero status.

I've had to climb onto the bed, straddle the pt doing CPR as he was being rushed out of surgery and into ICU. No one dies in the OR! I've broken ribs. Called an all clear not knowing my 8+ month pregnant belly was touhing the pt. Thank God for observant colleages! It's different outside of the medical setting. Family leaves the room, instead of begging and pleading and wailing. The teen fractured his skull (to put it mildly) and was paralized from the very obvious neck down. He was dead and I brought him back. My boys were in the car, one of them goes to the same school as the 16 yo girl and just barely 18 yo boy who jumped out of the car. I've had so many pts that should have been DNRs and pts with DNRs, but the entire family insists it be ignored. I do believe in miracles don't I? Ugh, I was told by the only other provider in this little mountain hospital ER that "Dead people don't sue, but famllies do." I hate ethics, but love saving someone that isn't ready or meant to go yet.

Good for you!

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
No broken ribs, no issues with breathing, did cpr and she went home without being transported to the hospital? This is one tall tale.

I don't think I was doing it hard enough possibly, I didn't want to hurt her and I was a bit apprehensive to do it in the first place because like I said, she was breathing abnormally but had a pulse and when I told this to the 911 operator, she said I had to do it because it is procedure. So I did it as hard as I could but not so hard, because I didn't want to cause any damage, and like I said before, it happened before but we didn't do CPR last time, but I don't know why they told us to do it this time.

You can choose not to believe me or what not, and that's fine. But it happened, and that's that.

To the other posts to answer your questions: when they came, she was still unresponsive to us, she was in some sort of trance, but kept fainting on us. but once they gave her oxygen and checked her out, checking vitals, blood glucose, etc. , she came out of her "trance" and she was fine after a while of sitting up and talking. I didn't see much what they were doing because I was still in shock on what I just had to do and they asked me to go get her medical history and her information for them.

Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

I do not understand why chest compressions were done when the student had a pulse? Also...if this was the case, this student should have gone to the hospital. I think the 911 operator was way off base on this one and compressions should not have been done....

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I do not understand why chest compressions were done when the student had a pulse? Also...if this was the case, this student should have gone to the hospital. I think the 911 operator was way off base on this one and compressions should not have been done....

I agree, but is done is done and the student is fine now. The EMTs said I did the right thing too.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I do not understand why chest compressions were done when the student had a pulse? Also...if this was the case, this student should have gone to the hospital. I think the 911 operator was way off base on this one and compressions should not have been done....

Not to be mean, but I see a lot of redundant responses, the answer is in the thread.

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.

Good job! I'm still a bit confused as to why with a good pulse, the operator was advising CPR, but some people get a little overzealous/misunderstand protocols (saying the operator, not you), as layperson CPR isn't advising to stop for a pulse check, just proceed with CPR if there's abnormal breathing. It's different for health professionals and maybe they just heard "school" and didn't click to the difference. The important thing is, you were there to help when she needed you.

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
Good job! I'm still a bit confused as to why with a good pulse, the operator was advising CPR, but some people get a little overzealous/misunderstand protocols (saying the operator, not you), as layperson CPR isn't advising to stop for a pulse check, just proceed with CPR if there's abnormal breathing. IIt's different for health professionals and maybe they just heard "school" and didn't click to the difference. The important thing is, you were there to help when she needed you.

That's what I think too, because we were telling her we can hear a pulse but she told me to keep going, even more when my AP freaked out that she couldn't feel a pulse, and tbh she sounded bored and possibly not listening to the issue, because she kept going even after EMTs came and we told her they were here.

But as it said, I did what I was suppose to and she's safe.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

For those reading this post who aren't familiar with the history...Amethya is a CNA in a school district wherein she is being "used" in the role of a school nurse. This "arrangement" by the school district places her in many conflicting and vague circumstances as to her degree of healthcare participation. She did what needed to be done and had no choice but to follow the 911 operator's direction. Praise God she was there to pull this child out of the abyss.

Specializes in OB/L&D/ patho.

It is scary to do CPR for the first time, but you did great keeping cool!

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
For those reading this post who aren't familiar with the history...Amethya is a CNA in a school district wherein she is being "used" in the role of a school nurse. This "arrangement" by the school district places her in many conflicting and vague circumstances as to her degree of healthcare participation. She did what needed to be done and had no choice but to follow the 911 operator's direction. Praise God she was there to pull this child out of the abyss.

Which is why I want to go to school for be a for real School nurse.

I love my job and even though there were some crazy moments, I love my students.

Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
For those reading this post who aren't familiar with the history...Amethya is a CNA in a school district wherein she is being "used" in the role of a school nurse. This "arrangement" by the school district places her in many conflicting and vague circumstances as to her degree of healthcare participation. She did what needed to be done and had no choice but to follow the 911 operator's direction. Praise God she was there to pull this child out of the abyss.

OldDude- Thank you for that. I was getting ready to explain a few things about this myself. You beat me to it...as usual. Pretty good for an Old guy :)

Specializes in School Nursing.

Do you have an AED on campus, and if so, did you have a chance to use it? I don't know that I'd do compressions with a pulse, but then I haven't been in the situation so you never know how you'll react. As a mom, I would have demanded ambulance take the child to the ER. Good job for not panicking.

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