Full day CPR course--what to expect

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I signed up for a full day course in First Aid/CPR offered by Red Cross. If anyone has taken a similar course, can you tell me what to expect? What will I learn in the course? What will I be qualified to do when I'm finished? The letter I got after signing up for the class warned that the class is "physically demanding"--how physically demanding? It also advises women not to wear skirts. I never wear pants and don't plan to start for this class. I will wear a skirt that's comfortable that I don't mind if it gets dirty. Can anyone explain why skirts should not be worn?

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Are you planning on using this for nursing? I don't know where you are from but where we are the only approved/recognized cpr for healthcare is by the american heart association....I thought you could use red cross here too, but they don't recognize it, at least thats what I was told for my program .....

You will get to watch that lovely really old movie that makes you want to take a nap....... " you!....call 911!......I'm clear, you're clear,......we're all clear! "...lol! They really need to update that film.....:rolleyes:

I hope if you are using it for healthcare that where you are does recognize it........good luck!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I'm doing it to apply for nursing school. I had no idea that not all CPR courses are acceptable! I really hope this is good since the fee is non-refundable.

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I know..I had the same issue when I started... I just "assumed" since it was the red cross it was ok...being they were so well known.......sorry...I didn't want to dampen your hopes.......did you already pay??? It may be accepted at the program you are going to......please don't take my word as the end all be all......I hope & pray your red cross does get the ok! :icon_hug:

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We had to take CPR for healthcare providers for school, too. Regular CPR classes were not recognized. The chest compressions felt like a good workout! All we did was work on manniquins and watch videos that told us what to do while we worked on them. The class was pretty fun and went by quickly. We had a fairly simple test at the end of the day and got our cards.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

It says no skirts because you are going to perform CPR while straddling a dummy.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Oh well, I'm not going to be applying to nursing school for another year or two at least, so I will probably have to repeat the class anyway since I think the CPR certification needs to be current.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.
It says no skirts because you are going to perform CPR while straddling a dummy.

I'll make sure to wear a loose fitting skirt.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular and Emergency Department.

i just finished my CPR class from the American Heart Association last week. Here's a suggestion: sweatpants. They're light, breathable, and comfy (those made of cotton). You'll never go wrong. More than half of the class wore sweatpants.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Basic First Aid/CPR is just that --> BASIC!

- Basic burns treatment

- Basic laceration/bleeding treatment

- Basic splinting

- When to call 911 & what to say

- How to roll someone over w/ C-spine precautions

- What to do for choking

- What to do when the choking person goes unconcious

- What to do when someone's not breathing

- What do do when someone is not breathing & no pulse

- Two person CPR

- Child/Infant Choking/AR/CPR

I wouldn't worry to much about the physical demands required for the course. Ya, you'll work hard for a few minutes practicing compressions, but it won't kill you by any means.

About the part of them wanting you to wear pants, I'd bet that probably has more to do with some highschoolers showing up to do the course wearing inappropriatly short shorts/skirts. You'll be expected to get down on the ground, and do compressions. You'll be expected to get your head/face right down there with the manniquin to practice rescue breathing. Butt high in the air + Short skirts = BLAH! If you wear something conservative and comfortable I wouldn't worry about it all. I don't remember having to straddle a dummy to do CPR.....always from the side.

Good luck on your course, and hopefully it will be accepted by your nursing school.

ALSO: Try really hard to learn the reasons behind what you're doing, not just memorize the steps. Why? Because when running through a code scenario I still see fourth year nursing students unable to figure their way through the steps b/c they had only memorized them in the course. What do I mean? Think to yourself why you're doing what you're doing. Check to see if someone is breathing before jumping right in to breathe for them. Check for a pulse before jumping right in to start compressions. Learn the rationales, not just the memorize the steps.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Thanks so much Stacey, your post was exactly what I wanted to know.

I really wish I had known to use American Heart Association before signing up with Red Cross. It would have been just as easy to sign up with them as with Red Cross. Lesson learned: Don't make any important moves before checking with allnurses! ;)

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My school does accept Red Cross training, but it has to be the course tailored for the medical professional and include the Automatic Electrical Defibrillator.

To me, (44 and overweight), it was physically demanding. My knees and elbows were bruised and sore, still recovering after 2 weeks! We had to kneel on the carpeted concrete floor with a small foam pad many many times to practice our technique.

Cost was $35.00.

Good luck!

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