Resuscitation Essay

1110 Words3 Pages

In a pre-hospital setting, there are few moments that are as intense as the events that take place when trying to save a life. Family presence during these resuscitation efforts has become an important and controversial issue in health care settings. Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a relatively new issue in healthcare. Before the advent of modern medicine, family members were often present at the deathbed of their loved ones. A dying person’s last moments were most often controlled by his or her family in the home rather than by medical personnel (Trueman, History of Medicine). Today, families are demanding permission to witness resuscitation events. Members of the emergency medical services are split on this issue, noting benefits but also potentially negative consequences to family presence during resuscitation efforts. A new study has found that family members who observed resuscitation efforts were significantly less likely to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression than family members that did not. The results, published in an online article in The New England Journal of Medicine, entitled “Family Presence during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation,” were the same regardless of the survival of the patient. The study involved 570 people in France whose family members were treated by emergency medical personnel at home. These EMS teams were unique in that they were comprised of a physician, a nurse trained in emergency medicine, and two emergency medical technicians. The study found that the presence of relatives did not affect the results of CPR, nor did it increase the stress levels of the emergency medical teams. Having family present also did not result in any... ... middle of paper ... ...f this is available, trained staff that can prepare the family members for what they will witness, support them through the event, and then direct them after the event’s conclusion. The American Heart Association states that the goals of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are, “to preserve life, restore health, relieve suffering, limit disability, and respect the individual’s decisions rights and privacy” (AHA Guidelines for CPR). The practice of offering family members the opportunity to be present during CPR is a controversial ethical issue in emergency medical services. While the results of the study published on this topic in The New England Journal of Medicine clearly show no negative side effects from having families present during resuscitation attempts, the limitations of the study lend to the need for more research before it could be universally accepted.

Show More
Related

  • Nursing Care In Nursing

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    This helps ensure an open line of communication between patient, family, and medical staff which allows for efficient information passing between interdisciplinary teams (Bamm & Rosenbaum, 2008). This communication allows the nursing staff an opportunity to also educate and counsel the family members as needed to prepare them for caring for the patient (Bamm & Rosenbaum, 2008). The value of viewing the patient in context of family from the nursing perspective is the fact that the whole patient is treated by taking into consideration the family environment and it 's affect on the

    Read More

  • Ethical Issues With Physician Assisted Suicide

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a result, life-sustaining procedures such as ventilators, feeding tubes, and treatments for infectious and terminal diseases are developing. While these life-sustaining methods have positively influenced modern medicine, they also inadvertently cause terminal patients extensive pain and suffering. Previous to the development of life-sustaining procedures, many people died in the care of their own home, however, today the majority of Americans take their last breath lying in a hospital bed. As the advancement of modern medicine continues, physicians and patients are going to encounter life-altering trials and tribulations. Arguably, the most controversial debate in modern medicine is the discussion of the ethical choice for physician-assisted suicide.

    Read More

  • Voluntary Circulatory Essay

    459 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although we haven't covered these systems in detail yet, which of the following systems would involve gas exchange of CO2 and O2?

    Read More

  • Critique of Barbara Huttman’s A Crime of Compassion

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...o get a do not resuscitate order. That is an order that the families may sign so the hospital does not have to give effort to bring a person back to life anymore once they have stopped breathing.

    Read More

  • Identifying a Researchable Problem: Open Visitations in ICU Oksana Bjorlie Walden University Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice NURS 6052 Dr. ...

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Among medical teams in ICU there is a conviction of opposition to opening the unit and allowing the presence of family members at the bedside. The reasons for their convictions are:

    Read More

  • Instructing Teens on CPR Procedures

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American Heart Association gives sufficient evidence for the need of change by acknowledging that sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death (2012). These fatalities affect both adult and child victims. Statistics also show that 70% of people feel helpless during a cardia...

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemmas In The Intensive Care Case Study

    1291 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Medical futility is a complex concept as there is no universally accepted definition.” (Chow, RN, ANP-BC, 2014) Futility was found among the group of colleagues on the ICU floor to mean a considerable use of resources without hope for recovery. The most common answers as to why medically futile care was provided were due to demands from family members and disagreements among team members regarding their plan of action. A major concern in these situations is that family members are left to make decisions without any health care knowledge. Communication is key here; critical care team members and family members have to try to overcome the difficult situation they have been placed in to figure out what is the best plan. The palliative care team should have been brought in sooner in L.J.’s case because on top of the lack of communication, “the case happened at the beginning of an academic year when new medical residents and fellows were just becoming oriented in the hospital system.” (Chow, RN, ANP-BC,

    Read More

  • Patient and Family Centered Care in Nursing

    644 Words  | 2 Pages

    Including family members in the care of the patient helps them cope better with the patient’s illness and helps them plan ongoing care when the patient goes home. Gaining both the trust of the patient and family can help the health care team get any details that may have been missed on admission, such as medications the patient takes, or special diet, or spiritual needs. Also, the family may provide pertinent information that the patient may not have divulged to the nurse. Encouraging the patient and family to voice their concerns will help implement a safe plan of action.

    Read More

  • Bystander Cpr Theory

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of increased morbidity and mortality rates throughout the nation. There are over 177,000 reported deaths in the United States and Canada per year. The immediate initiation of bystander CPR upon occurrence can increase the survival rate by 4 times compared to patients who do not receive the lifesaving technique. Unfortunately, less than 5% of bystanders engage in these actions when needed. Explanations for the low rates have been reported as low socioeconomic status, physical hindrances, emotional and religious beliefs, and knowledge deficits. However, advanced practice nurses have the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the rate of bystander CPR within all environments. In this paper, I will discuss bystander CPR

    Read More

  • Nurse's Role In Pediatric Death And Dying

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    The nurse becomes the confidant, the guide through the darkness, a source of comfort for those experiencing the trauma of losing a child. To successfully fulfill these nursing roles, in addition to roles that must be fulfilled to meet other patient’s needs, one must acknowledge their own definition of death and educate themselves on cultural and societal norms associated with death and dying. It is important to identify one’s own definition of death and dying but also understand that one’s preference does not define the death experience for others. The individuality and uniqueness of each death experience means that one definition of death may be hard for one to accomplish. It is important to maintain an open mind, nonjudgmental spirit, and impartiality for the cultures and practices of others surrounding death and dying. A culturally competent nurse is not only responsible for acknowledging the cultural norms of others but also respecting and educating themselves about the death rituals of their patient’s culture and providing the family with as many resources to safely and effectively fulfill their cultural practices. Education is empowering for the nurse who is navigating the death and dying process. Education often supplements ones credibility with the dying patient and their family which can ease overall anxiety and further promote ones role as a patient advocate and provider of

    Read More

  • Medical Futility: An Increasing Legal, Ethical, and Moral Dilemma

    1919 Words  | 4 Pages

    Mohr, M., & Kettler, D. (1997). Ethical aspects of resuscitation. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 253.

    Read More

  • What is Considered Life Support?

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    In addition, those potentially nearing the end of their life may be asked a DNR, or “Do Not Resuscitate,” Order. This states that in a life-threatening emergency where one is facing possible death, no actions shall be done try and “resuscitate” the individual in an attempt to restore life to the person. However, if a DNR Order is not filled out, actions including CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, h...

    Read More

  • Death And Dying Essay

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    The subject of death and dying is a common occurrence in the health care field. There are many factors involved in the care of a dying patient and various phases the patient, loved ones and even the healthcare professional may go through. There are many controversies in health care related to death, however much of it roots from peoples’ attitudes towards it. Everyone handles death differently; each person has a right to their own opinions and coping mechanisms. Health care professionals are very important during death related situations; as they are a great source of support for a patient and their loved ones. It is essential that health care professionals give ethical, legal and honest care to their patients, regardless of the situation.

    Read More

  • The Methadone Mile: A Case Study

    591 Words  | 2 Pages

    I worked as a medical scribe in an emergency department (ED) after my undergraduate education and one loss that I found particularly harrowing was that of a young teenager who had drowned while swimming in a lake. Her friends were unable to perform CPR and she went at least 20 minutes before being resuscitated by the paramedics. Despite the CPR provided by the paramedics, her pulse was thready and barely palpable upon her arrival at the ED. Further aggressive resuscitation by her physicians could not compensate for the time that she had gone without CPR and she passed away a few hours later. Losing any patient is difficult and so was losing her, however, I was particularly distressed because the simple knowledge of CPR could have dramatically changed her outcome.

    Read More

  • First Aid And CPR

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the medical field we have a variety of procedures that can be performed to help people and patients feel better or how to save a life. Some of the procedures that are performed can be done by professionally trained personnel, or by anyone. Two very important medical procedures that are very common are First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Both First Aid and CPR are used on a daily basis and are used worldwide, even if used in a slightly different manner the basic concept is still used almost everywhere.

    Read More

More about Resuscitation Essay

Open Document