Is it safe to do CPR outside of work????

[Misslady113]

I always thought being a good samaritan was the right thing to do. Well one of my nurse instructors told us that if we see someone who needs CPR dying in the street we should not get involved. That if the person dies or lives and the people find out we are nurses, that familes can try to sue (for broken ribs or permanent damages, etc..). She says it's best to just call 911 and wait until medical personell arrive and let them deal with it. Is this true?

[P-medic2RN]

wow. that is just crazy.

[dandk1997RN, MSN, RN]

It will be interesting to see other responses to this. I am not a nurse yet and don't know what current regulations are where I live, but when I trained as an EMT (15 years ago) it was actually told by my instructor that it would be illegal for me NOT to help someone in such a situation. NY passed a law in 2000 protecting anyone not seeking monetary compensation who helps in such a situation, meaning that if I (as a licensed healthcare professional) saw someone on the side of the road dying and helped them without demanding payment, I am protected by the Good Samaritan law. Not sure what the situation is in other states....

[czechchickieeRN]

So if your nursing instructor's child was laying there needing CPR, she would rather let the precious minutes pass away while OTHER medical personell is on their way than you do it? Do you know how insane that sounds? Shame on her! Every life is valuable and if you are trained in CPR, you should do what what you can to help those who need life saving measures. I carry a barrier film in my purse and have a pocket mask in my car for my own protection, but if I break someone's rib while giving CPR and saving thier life SO BE IT! I feel very stongly about this - if you can stand there and watch someone die while waiting for someone else to do CPR, then drop out of nursing school, or give up your licenece cuz we don't need nurses like that in our profession. (Not angry at YOU personally, Misslady - just saying in general!)

If someone has a different view, I would love to hear it.

[czechchickieeRN]

grrrr!

[SillyInScrubs]

I remember this being brought up early on in nursing school. I live in CT. What I was told was that it was my legal responsibility to help this person, and that the law would protect me because I would be doing what any other "reasonably prudent" nurse would do in this situation.

That's just what I was told, I haven't looked it up. But I think now I will, since this seems like an important thing to know!

[kcochrane]

The good samaritan law does in fact cover nurses. And as the poster mentioned above, you could actually be sued for not acting.

http://www.medi-smart.com/gslaw.htm

Check you local state law on this issue to get the specifics.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

If it was my relative lying there in the street.. I don't care if a criminal certified in CPR was the only one available to do it.. I'd want them to do it.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

Nursing school insructors say some strange things sometimes - which might make a thread in itself. As others have said, most states have "good samaritan" laws that protect the person who attempts in good faith to assist another from liability. And as a matter of simple humanity, I could not do otherwise.

Strangely enough, in the first few years of my career, I did more CPR out in the world than I did at the hospital. Odd things were following me around, it seemed.

[resumecpr]

I'd rather have a broken rib than be dead. Your instructor needs to have her head examined. The AHA now provides classes for "friends and family" which focuses on compression only CPR so that it CAN be used on the general public (like the park or WalMart). RN's are protected by the Good Samaritan law, but more importantly, your conscience will thank you!

[jxRN]

This law does not cover CALIFORNIA RNs as of 2009.

the CPR instructor actually told us this, and to my surprise, about 40 of us in the class did not know that. I guess you gotta give care but be smart not to do serious injuries..

[simboka]

I would do it, as long as the scene was safe of course I would definately pose the response to your instructor about if her child were laying in the street.

My question is this: was she telling that to a group of nursing students who have knowledge above what they are currently lincensed for, or for once you are licensed? I believe there would be a fine line there about coverage and scope of practice between that. And I'm kind of skeptical about whether a nurse vs layperson would be more apt to get sued.