I Think I my CPR Instructor Didn't Know What She Was Talking About

[darobow]

I am a CNA/CMA in Oklahoma and I have taken paramedic training so I know CPR and this isn't an ego thing where I disagreed strongly to the point where I am crying to the internet. It was to the point where we were basically handed out books at the facility I work at detailing what we can and cannot do with first aid/cpr however the instructor was saying the total opposite!

The books we were given detailed CPR and First Aid and the use of tourniquets however my instructor said that since we were lay people that we could only do direct pressure and that applying tourniquets was out of the scope of practice for us. (I haven't been able to find anything to back that claim up)

I was a bit confused but rolled with it anyway I didn't think CNA/CMAs were lay people since we are trained?

I was reprimanded for going over 100 compressions in one minute (I did 140) and I asked why that was a problem "Is for my benefit to straddle 100 for stamina sake until EMS arrives? Or am I doing damage to my patient?"

She gave me some sort of strange explanation that didn't really explain anything stating "If you go too fast the blood and oxygen goes through the body to fast to perfuse..."

I thought that was weird since you make up 25% percent of the heart doing chest compressions.

At the end of the class I apologized for pressing questions so hard about the tourniquets and said "This is my first time learning CPR and First Aid from this perspective I was taught the EMT way first and when I was told to not apply tourniquets if the bleeding continues I panicked a little and I'm sorry."

She replied "Well would you violate scope of practice?" I stared blankly at her for a minute and said "no"

Have they added tourniquets for just EMS!? I cannot find anything backing this up.

I am thoroughly confused over this and am worried that I could be putting clients' lives in danger if I listen to this woman.

Thoughts? Opinions? Am I wrong?

[darobow]

And missing his point entirely, it would seem.

Nah I was pretty spot on. Yes CPR is first line treatment just like direct pressure.

But there are also plan Bs like in ACLS CPR with medications.

Or if bleeding does not stop with pressure then tourniquet.

[darobow]

Presumably you took a class because you had a knowledge deficit related to the class content, right? You didn't walk into the class knowing it all, therefore you had a knowledge deficit. This is nursing terminology 101 (NANDA nursing diagnoses language), not a personal insult.

I had to take it for work. And the only thing that was difficult for me to understand (which is why I came here) is understanding how best to care for my patient which was explained poorly to me by my instructor. I explained that I was coming from a different point of view and am used to being on the ambulance and I just left with more questions than answers.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

There's no reason to lash out because people aren't telling you what you want to hear.

Presumably the instructor was assigned to you by the facility. If that was the case, I'd assume that the instructor was aware of the tourniquet policy and advised you all based on that.

That would also explain the difference between the handout and what you were instructed to do. I was recently instructed that unless you were a first responder (and acting in that capacity), tourniquet application was not indicated.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I just don't want to rule out the possibility. I know that more than likely I would not need to use one. I am a bit of a 'dark cloud' though. Obviously nobody is gonna get amputated at an assisted living facility. I'm just concerned over the fact that there is no plan B that I can fall back on.

You should probably learn to do crics then, too, as long as we're not ruling out possibilities.

[darobow]

There's no reason to lash out because people aren't telling you what you want to hear.

Presumably the instructor was assigned to you by the facility. If that was the case, I'd assume that the instructor was aware of the tourniquet policy and advised you all based on that.

That would also explain the difference between the handout and what you were instructed to do. I was recently instructed that unless you were a first responder (and acting in that capacity), tourniquet application was not indicated.

Please read the full context of everything before you tell me to not lash out. If you think I am lashing out on the forum please read all the autistic ADHD riddled messages toward me. With only a few with sound advice. With some messages ranging from over analyzing the CPR side of the class and stating obvious CPR stuff to not answering my original questions and mentioning a simile to CPR and First Aid but not stating its a metaphor to being shamed and made out like an idiot for asking if there is a Plan B for things. So If I'm a bit upset at trolls and it bleeds through I'm sorry.

But I'm not upset at being told something I don't want to hear.

[darobow]

You should probably learn to do crics then, too, as long as we're not ruling out possibilities.

I know how to do cricothyrotomies actually. Got anything else? I did go to paramedic school.

It should have been mentioned in the OP please read.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Several of us answered your questions. Is there something more you're unclear about?

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I know how to do cricothyrotomies actually. Got anything else? I did go to paramedic school.

It should have been mentioned in the OP please read.

Why are you working as a CNA? You should be going to medical school. Or nursing school. You clearly have higher aspirations than what you're doing.

[darobow]

Why are you working as a CNA? You should be going to medical school. Or nursing school. You clearly have higher aspirations than what you're doing.

Working on National Registry

[darobow]

Several of us answered your questions. Is there something more you're unclear about?

Yes how do magnets work?

[klone, MSN, RN]

How Magnets Work | How Magnets Work

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

You're a self-proclaimed trained paramedic with an EMT-B credential, working as a CNA, hanging on a nursing board. Judging from the tenor of some of your responses (spoiling for a flame war), you have anger issues. ("autistic ADHD responses"??)

Take a breath. Realize you have a lot to learn (as evidenced by not knowing why giving compressions too fast is counter-productive). No matter what role in healthcare you choose to pursue, people skills will be one of the most important things that will contribute to your success or failure.