Aaron Smith, Author at Minority Nurse

The Importance of CPR Certification for Nurses: A Comprehensive Guide

by Aaron Smith | Apr 15, 2024 | Blog, Certification | 0 comments

Heart-stopping moments don’t just happen in the OR. As a nurse, you may be called upon in emergencies without access to an AED (automatic external defibrillator) or other equipment. Ensuring CPR certification means you are on hand with the knowledge to help save a life in or out of the hospital.

Debunking 5 Big Myths About CPR

Although most people know CPR and how it can save lives, wrong information often hinders effective aid. Do you think these, even to yourself?

Someone Around Me Will Know CPR

Most Americans know CPR increases survival rates for myocardial infarctions, but only 2 out of 5 would be willing to perform it. Why won’t people help with a procedure they know can be the difference between life and death?

The one reason cited for not rendering aid is a lack of confidence in proper CPR procedures. CPR certification addresses this issue and provides a way to save a life when others won’t step in.

The EMTs Will Render Aid When They Arrive

EMT arrival highly depends on traffic, weather, and location, with 1 in 10 people waiting more than 30 minutes for an ambulance. Even response times of fewer than 10 minutes may be too late when someone has suffered a heart attack.

Survival rates decrease 7-10% every minute CPR is delayed. Bystander help can double or triple survival, but you must act quickly. The rule of thumb is that you are the help until help arrives.

No One Dies From Heart Attacks Now

While increased efforts in prevention are laudable, they can promote the idea that heart attacks are not fatal in this modern age. But cardiac disease, including myocardial infarction, kills the most Americans every year compared to every other disease. Performing CPR is still the best way to respond and save a life.

Everyone Receives Equal Care and Help

Studies show that low-income and minority communities have much higher rates of death from heart attacks. This survival gap can be up to 19%, proving that CPR training is helpful and vital in disadvantaged areas. If you live or work in one of these areas, being confident in CPR and willing to assist is imperative.

Hospitals Have the Latest Equipment–We Don’t Need CPR

According to The Joint Commission, crash carts with missing or expired items make up the top three list of hospital problems. You cannot count on equipment to take the place of CPR training. When the AED fails, or the crash cart battery is dead, it is up to you to begin compressions immediately.

Why Certification is Crucial

You Forget What You Learned

You probably received CPR training in nursing school, but did you know that retraining and revisiting procedures are vital to rendering optimal aid? Your knowledge of methods and skills in administering CPR deteriorate as time passes since your initial training.

Procedures Are Updated Regularly

Also, remember that guidelines for CPR are updated as new research emerges, and you need to know what the latest findings advise to give the best help.

For example, in 2020, the American Heart Association released new guidelines on CPR for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cases. Included are changes to the Adult CPR Algorithm and

Chains of Survival. If your training was before 2020, you must include these essential revisions.

But I’m not a cardiac nurse, you might say. According to specialist Diana-Lyn Baptiste, “every nurse is a cardiac nurse” because, quite simply, every patient has a heart susceptible to disease and infarctions. And crises can happen anywhere, in any ward.

Your Patient Outcomes Will be Better

Swiftly providing aid helps patient outcomes in the short run, but the effects don’t stop there. When nurses are certified in CPR, their patients exhibit improved outcomes from the time of the event to discharge.

Training also helps you stay calm when emergencies happen, and your attitude transfers to your patients, reassuring them amid what can be a terrifying episode.

Certification is Easier Than Ever

You used to have to spend hours at in-person training sessions or pay for expensive certifications. But now, you can get CPR certification online and even study on your mobile phone at home or when you have spare moments during the day.

There are no textbooks or manuals to buy, no taking time off to attend classes, and your workplace might even pay for your training. The convenience of online certification makes it a no-sweat, no-hassle way to level up your skills and resume.

What better way to contribute to the well-being of yourself, your patients, and your workplace?

Having CPR certification lets you act with speed and confidence in a crisis. Think about it this way: if you or a loved one were having a cardiac event, what kind of person would you want to help?

Nurse-to-Nurse Gift Exchange Ideas: Show Your Colleagues Some Love

by Aaron Smith | Dec 1, 2023 | Blog, Gift Guide | 0 comments

With the holiday gift season approaching, it’s a great time to start thinking about how to show appreciation to your favorite colleagues. Positive nurse-to-nurse relationships can profoundly impact your experience working in healthcare. Gift exchanges are common in many workplaces, so why not plan one with your nurse colleagues? Here are some options for the best nurse-to-nurse gift exchange ideas.

Make Their Shift Easier

As their coworker, you know best what makes their shifts easier. Pay extra attention in the next few weeks to see if your fellow nurses have any consistent complaints. Does one of them keep losing their water bottle? Or, another could benefit from new shoe inserts to stay comfortable during a long shift.

Think about anything your colleagues might talk about wanting, like a phone sanitizer, a new journal, or a personal massager. If you pay close enough attention, you’ll often realize people talk about the gifts they’d like to receive. As their nurse colleague, you have a unique opportunity to spend much time listening to them!

Show some sparkle

Show Some Sparkle

Although not every nurse can wear jewelry during a shift, Christmas jewelry gifts are always a thoughtful choice for a colleague. There’s a wide range of jewelry for various budgets, depending on what you’re comfortable spending. Has a fellow nurse done something that genuinely impacted your career or overall experience in healthcare in the past year? This is an excellent opportunity to get them a slightly nicer gift than you might get from another colleague.

As you know, nurses often go under-appreciated despite the work they do. It’s important to show your colleagues the appreciation you want to be shown. A beautiful bracelet or pair of earrings can go a long way—every time your coworker wears their gift, they’ll be reminded of your appreciation!

Help Them Relax

After long shifts on your feet all day, going home, changing into comfortable clothes, and relaxing are the best feelings. As a nurse yourself, you know what helps you most! Consider sharing your secrets and giving your coworkers some of your favorite end-of-day comforts. Aromatic candles, bath bombs, fuzzy socks, comfy sweaters, and cozy blankets make great gifts, especially in the wintertime.

It can be easy to overthink gifts, especially for colleagues you don’t know very well on a personal level. However, remember you’re at an advantage—you work the same job! You know what helps you relax after a long day of work, and your nurse colleagues will likely appreciate you sharing any of that with them. It can be a good idea to include a sweet note with your gift explaining how you benefit from it yourself. This way, they’ll feel touched by you, believing they’d also benefit.

Bring the Team Closer

The nurses you’re exchanging gifts with are likely part of the same team. Take the holiday gift-giving season as an opportunity to bring the team closer together with matching presents. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy unless you want it to be. Even getting your team of nurses the same pair of fun socks, nursing-themed or not, can be a thoughtful gesture. Or, consider personalizing the same gift for everyone.

For example, many reusable water bottle brands will personalize their products with names and gifts like sweatshirts, key chains, and more. You can even take it a step further by using nicknames instead of their full names to show you’re paying attention.

Make It Yourself

Are you still paying off nursing school loans and not in a position to be spending a lot of money on gifts? Or, do you have so many nurse colleagues that it wouldn’t make sense to pay for a gift for each one? Plenty of gift exchange ideas only require you to spend a little money while still being thoughtful and putting a smile on your fellow nurses’ faces.

If you love to bake in your free time, homemade sweets are always an excellent idea. You can even give them a fun, decorated “coupon” that explains you will take on a shift for them if they ever need to be covered!

Appreciate your coworkers (photo credit: Cottonbro Studio)

Appreciate Your Coworkers

According to researchers at Xavier University’s School of Nursing, nurse-to-nurse relationships impact the nurses involved and can also affect the quality of patient care. Moreover, the quality of nurse-to-nurse relationships in the workplace determines whether someone remains in the profession. If you appreciate your colleagues, consider participating in a gift exchange this holiday.