Pulseless patients: shock or drugs

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

Not only would you shock them three times, but if the rhythm is still the same and meds arent readily avail (say, in the field), you could shock them a 4th. (Dont forget, only 10% of all arrests survive....) You're relatively healthy person probably had a blockage of his Widow Maker, and little or no collateral development.

Tulsa has a 27% survival rate

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

Titles Do Matter, so you'd rather have a brand new RN-BSN graduate with no years of experience other than clinicals and fresh out of school versus an LVN with 5-6 years ED experience, ACLS, PALS, NRP? Titles Do Matter? YEAH RIGHT!
I'd take the LVN with my family members no doubt!

I think i'll have to break down and agree with you.....:)

Rollins · Mar 3, 2005

Thats shock 200 monophasic...
200-300-360 monophasic
120-150-200 biphasic

And?? What's your point?

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

And?? What's your point?

Just pointing out the difference.

Rollins · Mar 3, 2005

And?? What's your point?

What is your post referring to? Read the discussion.

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

I am sorry that you misunderstood the subject matter discussed in this post. I am also sorry that you misunderstood an earlier post of mine. Maybe you can try to interperet again,
"I agree with Biffs25, there is no reason that an RN shouldn't be allowed to gain prehospital certification quickly and economically especially after taking ACLS."
Hope that helps.

There is so much more to being a medic than cardiopulmonary arrest. Thats just a small part of it. And to become prehospital certified after ACLS? What does ACLS have to do with pre-hospital anyways, except for cardiopulmonary arrest?

I dont think most nurses realize that Medics spend very little of their shifts responding to full arrests.

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

What is your post referring to? Read the discussion.

The post is in regards to defibrillating VF/VT.

Someone posted 200 joules as the initial defib setting. That is incorrect for biphasic defibrillators. So my post is relevant to this topic.

Rollins · Mar 3, 2005

There is so much more to being a medic than cardiopulmonary arrest. Thats just a small part of it. And to become prehospital certified after ACLS? What does ACLS have to do with pre-hospital anyways, except for cardiopulmonary arrest?
I dont think most nurses realize that Medics spend very little of their shifts responding to full arrests.

I'm slow, but what exactly are we talking about now?

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

I believe you might be misrepresenting what Biffs25 was trying to convey. He didnt only say that a nurse should be able to gain "certification" after only an ACLS course. Rather he said:
most DOT approved EMT-B courses are at least 144 hours long. Divided into 4 hour classes at three classess per week makes for about a 12 week course. Not to mention the training that EMT-P's recieve to safely control scenes that could and do have multiple trauma pt's while being the only advanced provider present.
Why dont you go to http://ems.creighton.edu/ , or any other provider and take their EMT-B course. Then you can tell us which is harder, the EMT-B written and practical exam, or your puny ACLS cert-
11

Also clinicals..............

bobnurse · Mar 3, 2005

I'm slow, but what exactly are we talking about now?

About an ACLS RN being allowed to take prehospital certifications just because they are ACLS........I responded to a direct quote...

Rollins · Mar 3, 2005

Also clinicals..............

I'm an NR-EMTP, I know my stuff. I'm also BLS and BLS Instructor, ACLS and ACLS Instructor, PALS, NRP, CCEMT-P, CRFNm ect, ect,,,What is the point? We were talking about nurses working in I.C.U.'s and having ACLS. Am I missing something or are we on a totally new topic?

Biffs25 · Mar 3, 2005

I believe you might be misrepresenting what Biffs25 was trying to convey. He didnt only say that a nurse should be able to gain "certification" after only an ACLS course. Rather he said:
most DOT approved EMT-B courses are at least 144 hours long. Divided into 4 hour classes at three classess per week makes for about a 12 week course. Not to mention the training that EMT-P's recieve to safely control scenes that could and do have multiple trauma pt's while being the only advanced provider present.
Why dont you go to http://ems.creighton.edu/ , or any other provider and take their EMT-B course. Then you can tell us which is harder, the EMT-B written and practical exam, or your puny ACLS cert-
11

thank you 11, I am definately not condoning any RN taking an ACLS course and being able to call themselves a paramedic. I do, however, feel that it's possible for experienced critical care RN's to become great medics through an abridged paramedic course once they have taken an EMT-Basic class and have pre-hospital experience, speaking from both the EMS and hospital side of the equation.