Refusing to do CPR

OrthoNutter · Jun 7, 2002

Amazing that a nurse thinks that you don't do CPR on someone who is dead. What the hell do they think resuscitation means? Maybe she was talking about a facility that had a policy about fresh dead and way dead and CPR. In all facilities I've worked at, there has been no difference whatsoever. I remember coming on to a day shift, finding three night nurses standing around a patient arguing whether or not they should do CPR. They weren't sure how long the patient had been dead but he was still reasonably warm so I figured maybe it had only been in the last fifteen minutes or so. The policy at that facility clearly states that in the absence of a DNR/NFR order, a full code should be implemented. The guy was for full code so I hit the code blue button, brought in the crash cart, strapped on the leads for the defibrillator and started CPR. The three other nurses just looked at me dumbstruck and I just remember saying to them "you plan on helping me out any before the emergency team shows up or are you just going to look at me gobsmacked?" Then the charge started going off about how I started CPR without her permission. HELLO??? Since when do I need your permission to start a resus?? She kept going on about how if he did somehow get resus'd, he'd probably be a veggie so she thought it was unethical to assist. I kept saying that it doesn't matter, this is what our policy is. Besides, if anyone was going to get their butt kicked, it won't be me for starting resus. They got a pulse back on him but he died in ICU about four hours later. The charge couldn't stop rubbing my nose in it....like a juvenile "I told you so"....so what...at least I was doing what I'm paid to do....

nursegoodguy · Jun 7, 2002

The reason I became a nurse was to help people and because I WANTED to know what to do in an emergency! OrthoNutter, wow... you were right there with me! Isn't it a bit like you are dreaming when these things happen... I know it is for me! Like I can't believe what I am hearing??? Then you get no cooperation with anyone and you are completely alone in the situation...

micro, RN · Jun 8, 2002

OrthoNutter.........like what does absence of pulse, respirations and no responsiveness mean for over a minute+- mean anyway, besides that 'look'.........

LIKE INITIATE THE ABC'S OF CPR.........duh.........

but I know I am an Idealist.........

of course, kidding.....

OrthoNutter and nursegoodguy.........thank goodness for you and such as you...........

maybe it will catch on.........

:-(.........:-)

RNforLongTime · Jun 8, 2002

Wow, and it's amazing that people who say such things like"we don't do CPR on dead people" ever graduated from college, let alone passed the NCLEX! Ya gotta wonder about their common sense--they obviously don't have any.

Day shift nurse needs to be spoken to about running around like an idiot and blaming the night shift nurse--IN FRONT OF THE OTHER RESIDENTS! Night Shift Nurse better get a good lawyer. The nurse who didn't start CPR should be reported to the State Board of Nursing.

Good luck with this mess, I'll say a prayer for you.

micro, RN · Jun 8, 2002

whoever was the nurse that was there that noticed the absence of pulse, respirations and any responsiveness/brain activity upon the first assessment.............

????????? and :-( (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

Shandy12 · Jun 8, 2002

Refusing to do CPR is just not acceptable, and if that nurse can't handle performing this act, she should re-evaluate what she is doing in the profession. Too weird.

Lynda

micro, RN · Jun 9, 2002

Originally posted by Shandy12
Refusing to do CPR is just not acceptable, and if that nurse can't handle performing this act, she should re-evaluate what she is doing in the profession. Too weird.

Lynda

JUST SO WELL AND SUCCINCTLY SAID.....WORTH THE REPEAT TO ME AND FOR OTHERS TO THINK ABOUT.............

OrthoNutter · Jun 9, 2002

Uh huh...I definitely feel for you. It's one of the main reasons why I'm leaving nursing as soon as I've finished my present degree.

I just can't deal with terminal stupidity anymore...both from the patients and some of the staff!

BrianWhitfield · Jun 11, 2002

In long-term care facility in Huntsville Alabama, 72 yo woman with Parkinson's disease. Otherwise healthy and fully alert. Shortly after lunch begins to complain to the CNA's about chest pain. Three different CNA's reported situation to duty RN. RN states she is too busy to check on her. At 3:00, resident begins screaming about severe chest pain and crying out for help. CNA's immediately run to RN and literally beg her to check on patient. The RN refused. After 3 hours of horrible pain and screaming for help, resident went into full arrest. CNA's notified RN and when she didn't respond after several minutes the CNA's went to front of facility and got a LPN to come down. LPN began CPR and told RN to help with CPR. RN stated "I don't know how....". EMTs arrive a few minutes later and had to show RN how to use ambu bag and perform CPR. Of course the resident was later pronounced at the ER. The RN was terminated but still has a valid license and is employed by another facility. Criminal negligence charges are pending against RN.

The resident who suffered needlessly was my mother.

.....Brian

Furball · Jun 11, 2002

My heavens Brian...that "nurse" MURDERED your Mother! I am very sorry for you and your family. This nurse deserves jail time.

BrianWhitfield · Jun 11, 2002

Thanks for the note Furball. Needless to say, I have been having a hard time dealing with this. It's been 8 months, but I still have nightmares every night.

I was particularly bad because I had a co-dependancy thing going with my mother. I had been taking care of her since she was 50yo. I was the only family member left and was terribly devoted to making sure she was safe and happy. When it got to where I could no longer provide her the daily care she needed due to my job's travel requirements, I had not choice but put her in a nursing home. Dammit!!! I thought she was safe.....

An interesting note: The Alabama department of public health wrote the nursing home up for medicaid violations related to this. The nursing home formally responded that they had resolved the situation by terminating the RN and "The resident, Mrs. xxxxxx, has been transferred from the facility". They neglected to mention that Mrs. xxxxx (Mom) was cold when she was tranferred.

CATHYW · Jun 11, 2002

Oh-my-God, Brian! If I've ever heard of a case of negligence, this is it! Actually, a lot of words come cramming into my head that would cover this, but this is a decent forum. I am with the others who feel she deserves criminal prosecution. Unfortunately, I am afraid I would ask that something be done about the 3 CRNA's. Didn't ANYBODY know how to call 911? Even if the RN had just done that when your mother first began to complain, it would have at least been something! One question-was your Mom a full code?