TKH/08/DOCI/112 ADULT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION POLICY
Document Number: THE KAREN HOSPITAL
Document Classification: Clinical Guideline
Document Title: ADULT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
Department: Nursing Section: Nurses and Doctor
Compiled By: MARYANNE KARIUKI
Sign……………………………
Medical& Therapeutics
Approved By: Sign……………………………
Committee
Effective Date: Review Date:
September 2017 September 2020
Reviewed September 2017
, TKH/08/DOCI/112 ADULT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION POLICY
Introduction
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure performed in an effort to manually preserve
intact brain function and end organ perfusion before further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood
circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.
It mainly involves a combination of:
Highly effective chest compressions
Highly effective assisted positive pressure ventilation
Purpose
CPR is indicated in patients who are unresponsive with no breathing and no palpable pulse.
Scope
This Clinical Guideline applies to all emergency team members who respond to an emergency scenario where a
patient is in cardiac arrest i.e. doctors and nurses.
Definition of terms acronym and abbreviations
i. High Effective CPR: An emergency procedure that comprises of positive ventilations and chest
compressions done to a patient who is in cardiac arrest in an attempt to maintain end organ perfusion and
preserve brain function.
ii. BVM: Medical equipment that is used to manually administer oxygen to the patient using positive
pressure; comprises of a pump bag, oxygen valve and a face mask.
iii. Cardiac Compressions: Massage done at the center of the chest of the patient during a cardio respiratory
resuscitation to maintain cardiac output and ensure circulating blood volume.
iv. Defibrillator: Medical Equipment/machine that is used to deliver calculated joules of energy to the heart
in an attempt to reorganize, the electrical activity on the myocardium; could either be automated (AED)
or manually set (manual defibrillator).
Roles and Responsibilities
i. Primary Nurse: monitor and assess allocated patients and activate RRT or Code Blue respectively in
case the patient’s condition deteriorates
ii. RRT: Rapid Response Team that reassess critical patients in the hospital and intervenes accordingly e.g.
escalating patients care from ward to HDU/ICU.
iii. Code Blue Team: Emergency response team that responds and intervenes in the event of a cardiac arrest
within the hospital
iv. Departmental Nursing Managers: ensure there is a ready and accessible Crash Cart within the units to
be used in the event of an emergency
Reviewed September 2017
Document Number: THE KAREN HOSPITAL
Document Classification: Clinical Guideline
Document Title: ADULT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)
Department: Nursing Section: Nurses and Doctor
Compiled By: MARYANNE KARIUKI
Sign……………………………
Medical& Therapeutics
Approved By: Sign……………………………
Committee
Effective Date: Review Date:
September 2017 September 2020
Reviewed September 2017
, TKH/08/DOCI/112 ADULT CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION POLICY
Introduction
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure performed in an effort to manually preserve
intact brain function and end organ perfusion before further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood
circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.
It mainly involves a combination of:
Highly effective chest compressions
Highly effective assisted positive pressure ventilation
Purpose
CPR is indicated in patients who are unresponsive with no breathing and no palpable pulse.
Scope
This Clinical Guideline applies to all emergency team members who respond to an emergency scenario where a
patient is in cardiac arrest i.e. doctors and nurses.
Definition of terms acronym and abbreviations
i. High Effective CPR: An emergency procedure that comprises of positive ventilations and chest
compressions done to a patient who is in cardiac arrest in an attempt to maintain end organ perfusion and
preserve brain function.
ii. BVM: Medical equipment that is used to manually administer oxygen to the patient using positive
pressure; comprises of a pump bag, oxygen valve and a face mask.
iii. Cardiac Compressions: Massage done at the center of the chest of the patient during a cardio respiratory
resuscitation to maintain cardiac output and ensure circulating blood volume.
iv. Defibrillator: Medical Equipment/machine that is used to deliver calculated joules of energy to the heart
in an attempt to reorganize, the electrical activity on the myocardium; could either be automated (AED)
or manually set (manual defibrillator).
Roles and Responsibilities
i. Primary Nurse: monitor and assess allocated patients and activate RRT or Code Blue respectively in
case the patient’s condition deteriorates
ii. RRT: Rapid Response Team that reassess critical patients in the hospital and intervenes accordingly e.g.
escalating patients care from ward to HDU/ICU.
iii. Code Blue Team: Emergency response team that responds and intervenes in the event of a cardiac arrest
within the hospital
iv. Departmental Nursing Managers: ensure there is a ready and accessible Crash Cart within the units to
be used in the event of an emergency
Reviewed September 2017
