Summary:
John Smith, a 54-year-old man, collapses in the ED entrance on your shift. You call for help, and your quick assessment reveals that he is unconscious and not breathing. As the team gathers, you mentally review the latest resuscitation guidelines and start hard and fast chest compressions. The code team members collaborate to rapidly defibrillate Mr. Smith to correct his ventricular fibrillation and place an endotracheal tube to administer oxygen while minimizing interruptions in compressions. Fortunately, Mr. Smith resumes breathing and is transferred to the ICU in stable condition.
Respiratory therapists who work in the ED have to be ready for many challenging situations — including a patient in cardiac arrest. This article applies cardiopulmonary resuscitation to help resuscitate respiratory therapists’ knowledge and skills of EBP and reviews the most recent recommendations from the American Heart Association.
Objectives:
The goal of this program is to provide evidence-based information that will promote respiratory therapists’ knowledge of resuscitation for cardiac arrest. After studying the information presented here, you will be able to —
- Identify how to apply evidence-based practice in the ED.
- Describe correct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques.
- State best practices for patients with return of circulation after cardiac arrest.
Approval Information
This CE course is approved for respiratory therapists from 1/12/2012 to 1/12/2014.
This program has been approved for 1 contact hour of Continuing Respiratory Care Education (CRCE) credit by the American Association for Respiratory Care, 9425 N. MacArthur Blvd., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063. AARC Sponsor ID: 9514012. This is a non-traditional course.
If you are a respiratory therapist, remember to give us your AARC member number when filling out your license number information.
Gannett Education is also approved by the Florida Board of Respiratory Care (provider #FBN 50-1489).