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?

[RotorRunner]

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.

Your language is pretty offensive and unprofessional, FYI.

I don't even know what is being argued in this thread at this point. The plan B for a CNA in a nursing facility is call for help. Unless the Oklahoma state board of nursing approves tourniquet applications by CNAs and your facility protocol allows it, you will be applying pressure for uncontrolled bleeding. EMS will operate under their protocols when they arrive.

You are simply incorrect about the rate of compressions for CPR. And the rationale has been explained.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

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

When you make an analogy or metaphor, you don't state that you are making an analogy or metaphor. It should be obvious, which I believe that particular post *was*.

You seem like a rather literal thinker, which I guess isn't the worst thing in the world, but you need to get a handle on your defensive posture. People with thin skin have a hard time in the healthcare world. I'm surprised you haven't found that to be the case already in the paramedic realm.

Bottom line, it seems you now understand why your 140 bpm CPR was too fast, and what to do in your facility when one of your residents experiences a spontaneous limb amputation.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Closing for staff review