Nurses take on a great deal of responsibility every day when taking care of patients. There is a code of ethics in the field of nursing to follow which is to make decisions based on the best interest of the patient. Being highly knowledgeable about the field and what type of situations to anticipate will only help when making those important decisions.
Before becoming a nurse, one of the required classes will be to learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a person who is not breathing and is unconscious. You may have taken CPR in the past or think you know it, but each year it will be required to go through a training to be updated of any changes especially if you are in a nursing program.
And while many people think they know how to perform CPR, you’d be surprised that they actually do not. So you really need to ask yourself: are you are sure you know how to administer CPR?
1. Make sure you are not in any danger. This is important to remember. Sometimes your first thought is to just help the person in trouble, but always remember safety first.
2. Call 911 for help. If there are other people around, assign a person to call for help.
3. Check for a response and for breathing. Tap the victim on the shoulder to see if they are conscious. Check for breathing by tilting the head slightly back and lifting the chin upwards. This opens the person’s airway. Put your ear towards the mouth and nose to listen for breathing. With no response and no breathing, then proceed to perform CPR.
4. Make sure the victim is flat on his or her back. This will help prevent any injuries during compressions.
5. Position yourself on the side of the victim. Place the palm of your one hand onto the victim’s chest, near the heart, between breasts. Place the other hand over the first hand. You will count one and two, until you reach 30. You will press down on each number, coming up on the ands.
6. Check for breathing again. If no breathing, pinch the nose closed of the victim and breathe into the mouth two times for one second each.
7. Repeat as needed.
