CPR for Nurses: Essential Steps & Nursing Considerations.

By Peter Jumba

CPR for Nurses: Essential Steps &Nursing Considerations.

Master the critical nursing considerations for CPR, covering pre-resuscitation assessment, emergency activation, and the crucial roles nurses play during a code blue and in post-arrest care.


Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an important emergency procedure that can save lives when someone's heart and lungs aren't working properly. It combines chest compressions with artificial ventilation to help keep blood flowing and oxygen coming until medical professionals can take over. By performing CPR, you can help preserve brain function during a cardiac arrest, giving the person a better chance of recovery. I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of how CPR works and why it's so crucial!
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions and artificial ventilation to maintain blood circulation and oxygenation in someone experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest. It's a crucial life-saving technique used when a person's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. 


Nursing Considerations:

Providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical and high-stakes nursing intervention. The nursing considerations for a patient undergoing CPR can be divided into three phases: pre-resuscitation, during resuscitation, and post-resuscitation.

Pre-Resuscitation Considerations.
Assessment:
 The first step is always a rapid and accurate assessment. Nurses must be able to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest, which include a sudden loss of responsiveness and the absence of normal breathing or a central pulse.

Scene Safety:
 Ensure the environment is safe for both the patient and the rescuer.

Activation of Emergency Response:
 Immediately activate the emergency response system or "call a code" to summon the resuscitation team.

Check for Advanced Directives:
 If known, check for a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order or other advance directives. However, if the patient's status is unknown or unclear, CPR should be initiated without delay.

Preparation:
 As a member of the healthcare team, a nurse's role often includes preparing the patient for the resuscitation effort, such as placing them on a firm surface and ensuring clear access to the chest.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation:Advanced Protocols for Nurses.
 
Once a cardiac arrest is confirmed and the emergency response team is activated, the nurse's role shifts to delivering high-quality resuscitation guided by the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) protocol.


1. High-Quality Chest Compressions: The Priority.

While Advanced Life Support involves multiple interventions, effective chest compressions are the most crucial factor determining survival.


Rate & Depth: Deliver compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute and to a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm), but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).


Full Recoil: Allow the chest to fully recoil after each compression. This creates negative intrathoracic pressure, which is essential for blood return to the heart (venous return).


Minimize Interruptions: Compressions should not be interrupted for more than 10 seconds at a time (e.g., during rhythm analysis or defibrillation). The team should rotate compression providers every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue.


2. Rhythm Analysis and Defibrillation:

The defibrillator identifies the cardiac rhythm, dividing arrest into two paths:

Action: Defibrillate (Deliver a shock) immediately. Then, resume CPR for 2 minutes before the next rhythm check. Action: No Shock. Immediately resume CPR for 2 minutes. Focus on finding and treating reversible causes.








Location: Nairobi Nairobi, Kenya

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