I have question about CPR

The key question here is : Why there was no ambubag on the crash cart? You MUST, just must know where is CPR equipment No need for mouth to mouth if ambubag is there. I also feel the patients age has nothing to do with it. If code is present, don´t think just act.

AHA did recently say compressions alone can help because it pumps oxygen rich blood into the brain...or something like that. The crash cart would be there very soon..then they can start ACLS.

One of the hospital I work in the standard procedure is you MUST do mouth to mouth, unless there is a high risk of infection, such as TB or HIV.

I think it is assumed as this in most UK hospitals... I have a face mask that fits on my key rings just in case!!

whisper

In our litigious nation, pt. could sue you if they had so much as a sniffle after you performed MTM w/o a barrier.

i never even considered patients sueing staff for performing mouth to mouth!

I also question why there was no ambu bag on the crash cart. Where else should it be?

Another question is why is a person who is 100 years old (presumably frail, sickly?) a full code? Maybe I'm crass, but isn't that something that ought to have been addressed?

Really. CPR on a 100 year old should be declared a crime. But of course, I'm sure you know, if there is no family, and the person has no living will, then it must be assumed they would want everything done. We ran into this situation with a confused and dying patient in his 90s. We sent him to ICU, where he was intubated, coded and died. Sad.

Protocol at the hospital where I work is that ALL CPR venilations are done with a barrier device, and they are on the cart. Also, our crash carts are checked every day.

I would question why the bag/mask/ barrier device is not on the cart.

Thank you for all your help.

I agree that a 100 year old should not have been a full code. If I live that long (which I hope I don't) I would want to be left to peacefully die. I would not want tubes down my throat, machines keeping me hanging on or people jumping up and down on my chest.

Mandi

AHA did recently say compressions alone can help because it pumps oxygen rich blood into the brain...or something like that. The crash cart would be there very soon..then they can start ACLS.

Yep, when I recertified in January my instructor reinforced that information. Whether in the hospital or community, you are NOT liable if you refuse to do mouth to mouth, so long as compressions are being done.

p.s. SOOOOOOO glad to work in an ICU where each patient has bedside suction up and running, with an ambu bag connected to O2 right behind the bed. But even if these malfunctioned, we all are assigned to check the cart often enough (it's checked Q shift) and the Omnicell is pretty organized, so it would only take a minute to grab new equipment.

One of the hospital I work in the standard procedure is you MUST do mouth to mouth, unless there is a high risk of infection, such as TB or HIV.

I think it is assumed as this in most UK hospitals... I have a face mask that fits on my key rings just in case!!

whisper

Our hospital has face shield at the head of every bed. In our ICU we have our cart stocked with ambus on the side but also have ambus at the HOB as well for each pt. I personally would not do mouth to mouth even with the face shield- to flimsy and not an effective barrier if the pt vomits. We follow current guidelines from the AHA stating compressions are enough initially. We just never got around to taking down the face shields from the HOB.

I know that "Good Samaritan" laws vary from State to State but it has always been my understanding that as a nurse I am under no obligation to render aid when off duty in the community.

It is also my understanding that if I do choose to render aid that the "Good Samaritan" laws protect me ONLY as long as I do not exceed the level of education available to a lay person via CPR and First Aid courses offered in the community.

This is correct. Check your state laws for details. In my state we are NOT obligated to stop at the scene of an accident and administer aid but I would feel a moral obligation personally. Thankfully I've never had that encounter.