heart code CPR

[darleneball]

Many nurses at the Pediatric hospital where I work are experiencing arm and shoulder injuries from performing computer generated heart code CPR. Our hospital administration has told the staff this form of CPR is required per the American Heart Association and all other certifications are not accepted. Many older or smaller nurses have not been able to complete this certification and may lose their jobs. Anyone else have this problem?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

What is "computer generated heart code CPR?"

[MunoRN, RN]

As far as I know, "HeartCode" is an online form of the regular CPR class and the method of CPR used in the class isn't any different from that taught in the in-person classes.

[Loo17]

I worked at a hospital that used this I believe. During the skills portion of the class you perform CPR on a mannequin that is hooked up to the computer. It instructs you during cpr to go harder, faster, softer, etc. During one portion you must do 100 perfect compressions or do it over. It does not count for you so if you only complete 99 or 101 then you need to start over. It was very tiring!

[darleneball]

It is CPR testing on a computer system versus a human class. Compressions are much more difficult as they are read by the computer during the testing not graded by a human.

[MunoRN, RN]

It's the same CPR as done in the non-computerized class, the only difference is the computer is better at detecting bad technique.

[RNperdiem, RN]

This older, smaller nurse learned how to put her knees up onto the bed and put all 100lbs into those chest compressions. Standing on a stool or on the floor does not give you enough force to compress those mannequins adequately. In a real code, I do the same thing.

[liberated847]

Lets keep in mind the importance of performing this effectively, be safe, avoid injury to yourself and if you find you can't do this, please let the proper people know, failing to do effective CPR will cost your patient their life.