I'm very disturbed by this

I would be more concerned with the patient's health - if he's immunosuppressed, she just put him at risk (without any added benefit to the code process). It's not like 15 seconds makes that big of a difference. Live and learn on the new grad's part, and the nursing manager should be helping set priorities.

The new nurse panicked and did the best she could. She's probably rethinking that too. Give her support for quick action, but suggest that next time she should reconsider. Just try not to beat her up when it was probably really traumatic for her.

I agree with the above post for sure. After all it is the first thing we learn in cpr....she must be a caring person- the sort we want as a nurse. Praise her for her dedication- teach with with good direction.

Back before there were pocket mask. I did CPR on an elderly lady that aspirated in my mouth. On post she was eat up with TB. I ended up with a terrible case of TB. I was fairly new and would have moved heaven and earth to help thid 74 y/f who had been raped and beat up. I am so thankful we have pocket mask now. Everyone please use them.

Love

~Willow

The new nurse panicked and did the best she could. She's probably rethinking that too. Give her support for quick action, but suggest that next time she should reconsider. Just try not to beat her up when it was probably really traumatic for her.

Excellent advice.

Since new evidence shows that the "A" part of "ABCs" is not as important as defibrillation/CPR, there's no way in heck I'd ever give mouth-to-mouth on a patient or a stranger. If it was outside the hospital, I'd do all the compressions in the world until someone found an AED or EMS arrived... but definitely not worth risking my own well being for something that probably won't help much anyway!

She did something...which is far better than doing nothing at all. Granted, she should have used a mask, but we've all done things in an emergency that could make others cringe.

I've worked in trauma for the last 8 years, so I like to think that I'm cool under pressure; however, a few years ago, one of my patients went into respiratory arrest and my NA managed to tilt the crash cart, kicking and spilling a urinal at the same time, contaminating the unit. I freaked out when I saw what he did, as he managed to make a very complex obstacle course between me, my patient, and the rest of my help. I ended up giving mouth to mouth resucitation for a minute until the proper equipment was handed to me. I realized what that meant to me and the patient in regards of potential health problems, but if I were to be on his position, I would expect my nurse to do whatever is necessary to keep me alive. I don't regret what I did, it seemed an acceptable choice in this situation. However, it doesn't mean that I'll do it again. So be supportive, I'd hate to work with someone that would rather just stand there instead of acting.

During times of intense anxiety/stress people do things they normally would not....just saying....

OMG - I remember when we did all sorts of things without gloves, let alone masks!!! I carried a pocket mask around with me for years and never had the occassion to use it.

Raindrop - if one of your loved ones need CPR, I hope someone will do what needs to be done - even mouth-to-mouth - without waiting for the proper equipment. If they go to ground in front of me, I will be there to help.

I wear gloves now, BTW, whenever necessary. But I recall years of being on an IV team before gloves were mandated, even doing dialysis before 'universal precautions' was instituted. And I'm still alive!!! 35 years of nursing, mainly in direct patient care. :)

Agreed, not a huge deal IMHO. I am personally not all that keen on mouth to mouth and would take the time to utilise a barrier method. Perhaps the nurse manager was simply supporting this new nurse in front of peers? Would you have felt better if this new nurse had been called out in front of his/her peers by the manager?

The risk of contracting an illness such as TB is actually quite rare. I can only find rather limited evidence of transmission. So, I would be willing to let this one slide and help this new nurse out. I do not believe in taking one for the team and risking potential exposure in spite of the low risk; however, I am not going to make a big deal over a newbie doing mouth to mouth.