Legal responsibility to perform CPR?

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So I just got hired on as a CNA at a nursing and rehab center. I am BLS certified, and even CPR certified through the Red Cross. During orientation, the supervisor told us orientees that we are NOT to perform CPR or even the Heimlich maneuver on choking residents. She said that if we were to walk in on a resident who needs CPR, or is choking, to go get their charge nurse. She said even if we're certified to do those duties, she doesn't know which CNAs have CPR certificates or not (it's not a requirement)-and therefore we shouldn't do it.

Is this normal? I feel like if I were to run into a situation where a resident needed CPR or was choking, and I was to walk away from them to get a charge nurse, that it would be looked at as negligence. What are your thoughts?

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

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Specializes in I am the boyfriend of a CNA.

So my girl friend who has been a CNA now for 20 years just came home from work telling me how her day went. She said it started out by hearing another CNA say 911 on the walky talky and a room number. So Kr(my girlfried) Kr goes to the room and opens the door to a man freaking out about his mother needing help. Kr said the mother was on the ground between the wall and her bed and was unconscience and pale. The man was begging her to do anything to save her. He was witnessing his mother dying and no one around to help. He even asked if she could do CPR or anything. But Kr new to call a nurse and tried the walky and tried shouting but the nurse did not come. It was about 10 before a paramedic came running in because he took the stairs the others took the elevator and came after. The mother ended up dying. Kr says she would lose her job id she did CPR or the hymlec. How is this even legal. Kr has her CPR certification and this is an emergency why is this even a rule? The nurse was busy so never made it to the call. If there is 1 nurse responsible for 40 patients shouldnt there be some back up person like a certified CPR CNA that can help a dying patient and not have to worry about losing their job? If I was a guest or visitor at the time this went down I would do CPR or anything to try to help a dying person but a worker there can not? Any feedback? Ill report this inccedent if anyone thinks I should and to who let me know but it isn't sitting right for me. Thanks James

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Specializes in Critical Care.
28 minutes ago, james k said:

So my girl friend who has been a CNA now for 20 years just came home from work telling me how her day went. She said it started out by hearing another CNA say 911 on the walky talky and a room number. So Kr(my girlfried) Kr goes to the room and opens the door to a man freaking out about his mother needing help. Kr said the mother was on the ground between the wall and her bed and was unconscience and pale. The man was begging her to do anything to save her. He was witnessing his mother dying and no one around to help. He even asked if she could do CPR or anything. But Kr new to call a nurse and tried the walky and tried shouting but the nurse did not come. It was about 10 before a paramedic came running in because he took the stairs the others took the elevator and came after. The mother ended up dying. Kr says she would lose her job id she did CPR or the hymlec. How is this even legal. Kr has her CPR certification and this is an emergency why is this even a rule? The nurse was busy so never made it to the call. If there is 1 nurse responsible for 40 patients shouldnt there be some back up person like a certified CPR CNA that can help a dying patient and not have to worry about losing their job? If I was a guest or visitor at the time this went down I would do CPR or anything to try to help a dying person but a worker there can not? Any feedback? Ill report this inccedent if anyone thinks I should and to who let me know but it isn't sitting right for me. Thanks James

There are facilities which have varying policies on how resuscitation is provided, some have limited the scope of at least certain staff, such as non-licensed staff (CNAs) which has been controversial at times.

Some facilities simply don't take full-code residents, in which case the "no CPR on residents" rule would be appropriate.

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Specializes in I am the boyfriend of a CNA.

Respectfully, she had another experience with using the Heimlich maneuver but then she took charge and clear the man's throat which is still not alive. I think to punish a person for a reaction in an emergency situation is not a great rule. And if the rule is there an emergency situation instead of trying to save somebody and they have to think about whether or not the person matters or is eligible to be saved. Craziness. Thank you

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
6 hours ago, james k said:

 And if the rule is there an emergency situation instead of trying to save somebody and they have to think about whether or not the person matters or is eligible to be saved. Craziness. Thank you

What about repecting a person's decisions to nott have CPR. Many elders have a DNR or POLST in their chart that states their wishs. I don't know if you have seen the aftermath but there is significant bruising and rib fractures with CPR especially in the elder population. 

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

My MIL chose not to be given CPR due to age and health. Perhaps this patient you described also made that choice?

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Specializes in I am the boyfriend of a CNA.

I'm sure there are many stipulations on individual cases. This last event with my girlfriend was hard on her because of the actions of the dying ladies son who was present, begging anyone to help. He specifically asked her to perform CPR on his mother and was in shock. So Kr had  a lot of craziness all at once. She did show concern for the lady which made the son realize she was there to help and she also kept trying to get a nurse asap. She did this for about 10 minutes before a paramedic arrived. Understanding it's terrible a lady passed. But there's so much that could have gone wrong or even worse. I think my girlfriend did outstanding. I also think that she's working there because she has the common knowledge and sense to do what's best at the time of an emergency.. I know when she was crying after it all happened she was crying because of what the son was going through. Hats off to all you CNAs. 

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Everywhere I’ve worked, all clinical staff had to be at least BLS certified and being CPR certified through the American Red Cross wasn’t even acknowledged. We even had to be BLS certified for healthcare providers before nursing school, as one of our prerequisite classes had us working in LTC for CNA shifts. 

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Sounds like your GF is a very caring CNA. I hope she keeps it up.

 

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Specializes in I am the boyfriend of a CNA.
On 1/8/2022 at 11:20 PM, T-Bird78 said:

Everywhere I’ve worked, all clinical staff had to be at least BLS certified and being CPR certified through the American Red Cross wasn’t even acknowledged. We even had to be BLS certified for healthcare providers before nursing school, as one of our prerequisite classes had us working in LTC for CNA shifts. 

I wish I knew what all that meant.  All I can say is when I took swimming lessons and made it to divers training I had to learn CPR. I  was 10, I was advanced in swimming. Everyone else was a teenager.  And there was a rumor that once we learned CPR and got our cards we had the responsibly of using it if we were around someone who needed it. And if we didn't, and the police found out we were CPR capable but didn't help we may go to jail. I quit swimming after that year cause that scared the heck out of me.  I never did fin

d out if that was true or not.

 

 

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On 1/10/2022 at 11:03 AM, james k said:

I wish I knew what all that meant.  All I can say is when I took swimming lessons and made it to divers training I had to learn CPR. I  was 10, I was advanced in swimming. Everyone else was a teenager.  And there was a rumor that once we learned CPR and got our cards we had the responsibly of using it if we were around someone who needed it. And if we didn't, and the police found out we were CPR capable but didn't help we may go to jail. I quit swimming after that year cause that scared the heck out of me.  I never did fin

d out if that was true or not.

 

 

BLS is basic life support and is the CPR requirement for healthcare professionals administered through the American Heart Association. Healthcare requires that and not the CPR through the American Red Cross, which most people obtain.  LTC is long-term care (nursing homes).  My nursing school wouldn’t even let us do clinical rotations without being BLS certified, which is why I’m amazed someone could work in healthcare without being certified.  

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