Medtronic Life Pack 20e VS ZOLL M (defib/pacer/cardioverter

[brownbook]

In our clinic we have never had a code since I have been there, over 7 years.

Most of my code/crash cart experience is over 15 years old. I do renew ACLS every two years, but as they say in the course, "You MUST know your own equipment."

There are the above two mentioned ?? defibrillators ? available for use.

Honestly I don't know why the two? What is the difference? Please give me explanations with a KISS (keep it simple stupid).

Most of my code/crash cart experience is over 15 years old. I do renew ACLS every two years, but as they say in the course, "You MUST know your own equipment."

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Google is your friend.

http://www.physio-control.com/uploadedFiles/Physio85/Contents/Emergency_Medical_Care/Products/Operating_Instructions/LIFEPAK20e_OI_3205878-012.pdf

M Series Defibrillator - Cardiac Life Support Medical Devices - ZOLL

If you have both on your floor, your staff educator should run familiarization classes for staff. If you don't have one, call the reps for Medtronic and Zoll and they will send someone over to do it for free.

[brownbook]

Okay, thanks, we do have all the operating instructions and have to check the "crash cart" every morning. I am going to ask our charge nurse.

But I am so confused by the two ?? similar ?? devices I wanted to be a little aware....self informed...before I ask in case I don't understand their explanation. In other words it is hard to understand, or answer to: "Do you have any more questions?" when you don't know enough about the subject to ask!

Honestly, my co-workers and charge nurses are great, but unfortunately I wouldn't be horribly surprised if my question was answered by....."Actually I am not sure."

In the old timey days there was one crash cart, one defibrillator, no AED's, no gel pads, etc. Also in the old timey days hardly anyone survived a code! I can remember giving sodium bicarb and calcium chloride, and "shock, shock, shock, everybody shock", is forever burned into my memory bank!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

When they ask if you have any questions, say, "I'm not totally clear on the difference between these two units. Do they do the same thing, or different things?" That doesn't reflect poorly on you, but it gives the instructor a chance to improve his/her presentation technique by learning that the learners need to know that before s/he starts.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

If you are hospital affiliated just contact EP and find out through their offices who their reps are, get the numbers and call the reps for your info.

[brownbook]

Yeah, "I am not totally clear on the difference between these two machines....do they do the same thing"....etc. sounds good. Better than a clueless.... "I have no idea why there are two machines and what they are for?"

Thanks for your replies, we are indirectly affiliated with a hospital so we will see where my questions lead to. As in maybe getting a "real" code team to give us an in-service. As I have learned as I ask questions (and feel dumb), that co-workers say, "I don't know either."