Basic Life Support

Assessment of the Collapsed Patient

The presenter of this webinar will examine Basic Life Support and the assessment of the collapsed patient. The session will explore the actions required in the first 10 seconds of a collapse. Nurses have a vital role in this situation, using their expert assessment skills in the first 10 seconds to decide whether to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or treat other causes of collapse, such as syncope.
CPD HOURS: 1
 Registration Year 2024-2025

Course Content

The content of this webinar will review the ANZCOR guidelines for Basic Life Support as well as the controversy surrounding the performance of carotid pulse checks on an unconscious patient. The reason lay rescuers were advised not to take a carotid pulse in the basic life support course will be reviewed. The importance of taking a carotid pulse by Nursing clinicians and why this is not standard practice will also be explored.

There will also be an explanation of Agonal breathing and seizure-like movement, which can cause confusion and uncertainty for the nurse assessing the patient in this initial 10-second period. It may appear the patient is breathing – but they may still be in cardiac arrest.

Topics covered within the presentation include:

• Knowledge and skills in assessment and resuscitation

• Discussion on why taking a carotid pulse as part of the initial assessment became and  
  remains, in some contexts, controversial

• Understanding agonal breathing

• Why cardiac arrest may appear initially as seizure-like movements

• How to perform a carotid pulse check

• How to perform compressions and the required depth of compressions

• Airway management using a supraglottic device

• Why compressions cannot stop for more than 5 seconds

• Why assertive skills are needed to ensure that the team is not off the chest for more than    5 seconds

Why this session may be relevant to your work

As a registered nurse it is a basic skill that I can perform basic life support. This session provides me the opportunity to review the latest information regarding basic life support.

Learning Outcomes

In this session you will:
  • Gain an understanding of how to assess an unconscious patient for syncope or cardiac arrest
  • Recognise the barriers to performing an an accurate assessment
  • Review the technique of performing a carotid pulse
  • Explore the Australia, New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation guidelines for basic life support

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Anne Evans-Murray

R.N., BHlthSc, MACCCN, Grad.Dip Ed, MEd, Dip Counselling, GradCertCritCare, CertIV Training and Assessment, CertIV in Mediation
Anne has a passion for teaching which she does in an unpretentious way that ensures you will not only understand and retain what she presents but will enjoy this learning experience. She has extensive experience of over 26 years lecturing for Gold Coast Health District and Griffith University.