Have you ever done CPR off duty?

Nurses General Nursing

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All these current threads about CPR got me wondering, how many nurses have been off duty and had to do CPR? Have you ever been at the mall, or in a store, or at a ballgame, etc. and had to do CPR on an individual? If so, were you hesitant? Did you worry about liability or did you react without even thinking? Was it successful? Did you go with the individual to the hospital or ever hear from them again?

Just in case you don't want to do breaths, here's a little bit of info that I heard about in my latest CPR class: Apparently, in Europe, compressions are done but rescue breathing is not. Studies have shown that the success rate of CPR is higher in Europe than in America. This is why we have increased our ratio to 30/2.

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Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

My husband (military) was standing in a petrol station waiting to pay when a women rushed in with a small baby not breathing - she had been on her way to hospital as baby was ill. Everyone stood about so hubby grabbed baby put baby on the shop counter, told someone to ring 999 and started CPR. Ambulance came within 4 minutes baby was taken by paramedics and rushed to hospital. Don't know how she did it but mum located hubby a few days later and sent him a lovely card to say baby survived and was doing well. Hubby a bit shaken up but I was as proud as punch of him. He said all the time he had served in Iraq etc he hadn't been so scared as when he was doing CPR on the baby.

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Just in case you don't want to do breaths, here's a little bit of info that I heard about in my latest CPR class: Apparently, in Europe, compressions are done but rescue breathing is not. Studies have shown that the success rate of CPR is higher in Europe than in America. This is why we have increased our ratio to 30/2.

We had a code on our unit a few days ago. I was at the head trying like heck to ventilate the man. Another nurse was on the chest pumping away. I couldn't get a breath in. When I asked him to pause slightly so I could get in a couple breaths the resident said 'NO don't stop'. Aren't we supposed to pause slightly to get the breaths in?

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Specializes in Telemetry, Nursery, Post-Partum.
We had a code on our unit a few days ago. I was at the head trying like heck to ventilate the man. Another nurse was on the chest pumping away. I couldn't get a breath in. When I asked him to pause slightly so I could get in a couple breaths the resident said 'NO don't stop'. Aren't we supposed to pause slightly to get the breaths in?

I was taught most recently 30 compressions to 2 breaths. A partial reason for this change is people give breaths incorrectly, create too much pressure and the compressions are not as effective. But I would still think those breaths are important, you need some oxygen to circulate, right?

I've never had to do CPR, but I have had to do the Heimlech on my husband a couple times...he needs to learn to chew!

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This is probably a stupid question- but as far as infectious diseases go, what are you going to catch by doing mouth-to-mouth? Aside from a cold, maybe Herpes if you managed your ENTIRE life without it (up to 90% of the adult population has Type 1 already), and in an incredibly rare instance RSV or Chicken Pox, what are you going to catch that is harmful?

There's probably a really obvious answer that I'm missing, but my little breain hasn't recovered from an extended Christmas break quite yet.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
We had a code on our unit a few days ago. I was at the head trying like heck to ventilate the man. Another nurse was on the chest pumping away. I couldn't get a breath in. When I asked him to pause slightly so I could get in a couple breaths the resident said 'NO don't stop'. Aren't we supposed to pause slightly to get the breaths in?

from what I understand, breaths must be altered with compressions when performing CPR on a non intubated person, however, when intubated, compressions can be done simultaneously while ventilation is taking place. Someone please correct me if I am wrong...haven't had ACLS yet, but this is what was explained to me by another nurse.

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This is probably a stupid question- but as far as infectious diseases go, what are you going to catch by doing mouth-to-mouth? Aside from a cold, maybe Herpes if you managed your ENTIRE life without it (up to 90% of the adult population has Type 1 already), and in an incredibly rare instance RSV or Chicken Pox, what are you going to catch that is harmful?

There's probably a really obvious answer that I'm missing, but my little breain hasn't recovered from an extended Christmas break quite yet.

I was curious so I did some checking around, and found that these are transmittable through mouht-to-mouth resucitation: salmonella, tuberculosis, N.meningitis, Hepatitis B. Hep C requires blood to pass from victim to rescuer, but if there's blood in mouth or patient pukes up blood, well....same thing with HIV: risk extremely low through saliva, but I don't care HOW tiny the risk, it's a risk. Also, same thing with Hep C: any blood in mouth getting to rescuer, there's now exposure.

Seems harmful enough to me!

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by the way, I carry a little pocket-sized mask/gloves pack in my purse, so doing it "naked" is not going to be an issue. I would not be doing it any other way.

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I was curious so I did some checking around, and found that these are transmittable through mouht-to-mouth resucitation: salmonella

I've implemented a no-CPR-for-pythons policy that will greatly reduce my risk of CPR-related salmonellosis. :)

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okay I read and now I am going to respond. I have only performed CPR twice as a nurse (neither survived) and as a volunteer EMT 12 with only 1 surviving initial crisis died a week later. It does come to you. I remember the very first arrest I had and the adrenaline. Of course my 1st had to be a liver transplant recepient not to far in the post op phas;e with a lot of staples. As I started compressions I felt bones popping it was the most nauseating thing ever of course that was as an EMT.

On the scene just remember this is not your emergency and focus on what we are always taught ABC's. You can see my ratio 0:14 but I know that my effort gave a greater chance than not doing anything.

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

Back in my younger nursing days I rode on a mobile CCU so I have done many many codes out in the street. I have also done mouth-to-mouth many time "naked" and out of dozens of times I have to say only one got me. Some little old wino had TB and the coroner called me and told me. I was positive PPD and took INH and b6 for a year. would I do it any different? Probably not. The idea of standing there and watching another human being die because I had no mask is positivly abhorrent to me.

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from what I understand, breaths must be altered with compressions when performing CPR on a non intubated person, however, when intubated, compressions can be done simultaneously while ventilation is taking place. Someone please correct me if I am wrong...haven't had ACLS yet, but this is what was explained to me by another nurse.

2005 ACLS guidelines are 2 breaths /30 compressions for 2 minutes then allow time for reassessment of patient and or AED assessment for shock or no shock, pulse etc and give meds, then start next two minute cycle of cpr 2 breaths /30 compressions (continue the 2 minute cycle even if the patient wakes up)

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