Okay... Looking for everyone's input! So in class today we are talking about legal and ethical obligations of an RN.
We were discussing how as an RN you are legally obligated to stop and help if you pass an accident in certain states.
A student brought up what if you were in a bar on the weekend having a few drinks. Someone at the bar has a cardiac arrest. And no one else in the bar has a clue about how to perform CPR or help this person.
Even if you've had a few drinks... Would you feel obligated to help? Or could your license be at jeopardy because you performed healthcare on someone after having a few drinks?
I'm a psych nurse, mostly. The only (2) times I've ever done chest compressions in a street scenario were seperate incidents, one with a dog that was choking, and one with a dog that was attacked. No people. So it would depend on if I felt my skills were up to par.
P.S. I definitely did not do mouth to snout. Both were foaming pretty hard. Both lived .
So then do you always carry a mask that they provide you to give breaths? After performing cpr do you get another? Or do you carry an ambu bag? I'm just wondering because you can't just do the chest compressions. That is not correct cpr and I don't know if you would be covered u set the Good Samaritan act.
What states are you obligated to stop at an accident. Please include sources. Accidents along the road are way different than somebody keeling over in a bar. Why would you not unless you were so physically impaired by the alcohol that you could not? I could never just let somebody die in front of me, especially if. I was the only certified cpr person. What's the point of getting certified if you won't use it? How is that even a debate? If a person who is capable of giving cpr and saving someone's life does not, you don't belong in this profession.
There is a "hands only" CPR that is taught to non-proffesionals.
Unless I were really impaired, I would probably feel it was my duty as a health professional to do everything I could to save a life. I would also be hesitant to provide breaths without a mask, but I do have one in my car at all times.
If I have a mask for providing breaths in my car, though, and I am in a bar...it's better to just do compressions rather than delaying them to go get the mask. Especially for an adult.
Unless you are embarrassingly intoxicated, how could you not do CPR? ! ! Legally obligated, probably not. Morally obligated? Why are you a nurse? Compression only CPR is fully acceptable if no barrier available for respirations.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Compression only CPR
Bystanders who perform chest-compression-only CPR instead of traditional CPR with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (rescue breathing) save more lives, a study shows. ... The researchers say chest-compression-only CPR may be easier to learn and remember than traditional CPR ...
Specializes in L&D, OR, Case management, Dementia.
GOOD Lord! Why is this even a question? Nursing is about #1 caring about other people; #2 rendering aid to someone ... anyone in need and; #3 if someone drops in front of you why would you question "why should I help?" or "should I help?"
The more I read on this "allnurses" thing makes me wonder what the crap we are teaching people in nursing school? From a nurse who learned "back in the day," .... this is not all about you....it's about the other people who need you.
My answer to the "ethics" of this....if someone's in a life-threatening situation...hit your knees and give it your all! That's what a real nurse does....without question!
GOOD Lord! Why is this even a question? Nursing is about #1 caring about other people; #2 rendering aid to someone ... anyone in need and; #3 if someone drops in front of you why would you question "why should I help?" or "should I help?"
The more I read on this "allnurses" thing makes me wonder what the crap we are teaching people in nursing school? From a nurse who learned "back in the day," .... this is not all about you....it's about the other people who need you.
My answer to the "ethics" of this....if someone's in a life-threatening situation...hit your knees and give it your all! That's what a real nurse does....without question!
I attended nursing school "back in the day," also, and at no point were we taught that nursing is about being a selfless angel who is on call 24/7 to the entire world. It is my choice whether or not I want to get involved in an emergency situation in the field outside of my employment; I am not obligated to do so. There are a number of perfectly reasonable considerations involved in that decision, and, yes, "should I help" and "why should I help" are legitimate questions. There are plenty of "real nurses" who don't share your opinion on this.
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
So then do you always carry a mask that they provide you to give breaths? After performing cpr do you get another? Or do you carry an ambu bag? I'm just wondering because you can't just do the chest compressions. That is not correct cpr and I don't know if you would be covered u set the Good Samaritan act.
What states are you obligated to stop at an accident. Please include sources. Accidents along the road are way different than somebody keeling over in a bar. Why would you not unless you were so physically impaired by the alcohol that you could not? I could never just let somebody die in front of me, especially if. I was the only certified cpr person. What's the point of getting certified if you won't use it? How is that even a debate? If a person who is capable of giving cpr and saving someone's life does not, you don't belong in this profession.
So then do you always carry a mask that they provide you to give breaths? After performing cpr do you get another? Or do you carry an ambu bag? I'm just wondering because you can't just do the chest compressions. That is not correct cpr and I don't know if you would be covered u set the Good Samaritan act.
What states are you obligated to stop at an accident. Please include sources. Accidents along the road are way different than somebody keeling over in a bar. Why would you not unless you were so physically impaired by the alcohol that you could not? I could never just let somebody die in front of me, especially if. I was the only certified cpr person. What's the point of getting certified if you won't use it? How is that even a debate? If a person who is capable of giving cpr and saving someone's life does not, you don't belong in this profession.
It is accepted to only rely on compressions until help arrives. I just renewed my CPR last week so this is fresh in my head. The instructor said if the person you are working on is your parent, friend, sibling and you are comfortable doing mouth to mouth, go ahead but if you are an off duty nurse who stumbled upon the scene of an accident, and you don't want to put your mouth on a random, it's okay and it's covered under the Good Samaritan act (at least here). Up until a certain period of time the oxygen will remain circulating through the blood UNLESS you stop compressions. Just because we aren't all gung ho about putting our mouth on Homeless Joe doesn't mean we shouldn't be in healthcare. Get a grip.
Also, in all states that I am aware of you are not required to stop and give assistance.
It is also very, very STUPID to stop and give assistance at an accident. Why? You're another body. I made people very upset and stepped on toes when I (as a medic) explained why no one should stop at accidents. I have seen a fire truck and an ambulance get slammed into by other vehicles not paying attention. You add to the body count when a drunk driver hits them. We hear about volunteers (with lights) getting hit. We hear about police officers and EMS personnel getting hit.
Not to mention very few people carry proper safety equipment or rescue equipment. I have turnout gear in my car. I have gloves because I'm the only smalls.
Also, it may be a little scary to think about but read the laws. If you have healthcare training, they may expect you to act to that level of training and could try to sue you if you act outside of that training. It's potentially risky.
Also, this is more for paramedics but you shouldn't advertise yourself as a healthcare provider as that could potentially create a duty to act. This is more for those medics who put EMS in their windows or wear "Greatest paramedic in the world." I have seen symbols associated with ambulances as window decals on trucks. In my state, that is potentially creating the duty to act because they advertise themselves as EMS. We had a lawyer who did a CE for the fire department.
So then do you always carry a mask that they provide you to give breaths? After performing cpr do you get another? Or do you carry an ambu bag? I'm just wondering because you can't just do the chest compressions. That is not correct cpr and I don't know if you would be covered u set the Good Samaritan act.
What states are you obligated to stop at an accident. Please include sources. Accidents along the road are way different than somebody keeling over in a bar. Why would you not unless you were so physically impaired by the alcohol that you could not? I could never just let somebody die in front of me, especially if. I was the only certified cpr person. What's the point of getting certified if you won't use it? How is that even a debate? If a person who is capable of giving cpr and saving someone's life does not, you don't belong in this profession.
I had a CPR class today, and they said that if you are not comfortable putting your mouth on their mouth and have no barrier or ambu, chest compressions alone are better than doing nothing because it keeps the blood and oxygen circulating.
SunnyPupRN
289 Posts
I'm a psych nurse, mostly. The only (2) times I've ever done chest compressions in a street scenario were seperate incidents, one with a dog that was choking, and one with a dog that was attacked. No people. So it would depend on if I felt my skills were up to par.
P.S. I definitely did not do mouth to snout. Both were foaming pretty hard. Both lived .