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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/nurses-...covid-19-patients-in-cardiac-arrest-1.5242327
Nurses sound alarm on Quebec rule that delays CPR for COVID-19 patients in cardiac arrest
Amanda Kline
Anchor for CTV News Montreal Weekends and videojournalist
Published Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:11PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:14PM EST
MONTREAL -- Some Quebec nurses are speaking out about a protocol they say could cost some patients their lives.
According to Quebec health ministry protocol last updated in August, an intensive care patient with COVID-19 who goes into cardiac arrest must be intubated before receiving chest compressions, losing precious time.
“It's almost like a death sentence,” said an ER nurse who asked to remain anonymous.
The protocol was designed to protect health-care workers from COVID-19, since chest compressions are thought to risk aerosolizing the virus and spreading it. It applies to patients diagnosed or just suspected of having the virus.
But some nurses aren’t comfortable with it, pointing out that intubating someone takes a few minutes. Though the delay may seem minor, any holdup in a moment of cardiac arrest could lead to severe brain damage or even death...
Nurses sound alarm on Quebec rule that delays CPR for COVID-19 patients in cardiac arrest
Amanda Kline
Anchor for CTV News Montreal Weekends and videojournalist
Published Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:11PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:14PM EST
MONTREAL -- Some Quebec nurses are speaking out about a protocol they say could cost some patients their lives.
According to Quebec health ministry protocol last updated in August, an intensive care patient with COVID-19 who goes into cardiac arrest must be intubated before receiving chest compressions, losing precious time.
“It's almost like a death sentence,” said an ER nurse who asked to remain anonymous.
The protocol was designed to protect health-care workers from COVID-19, since chest compressions are thought to risk aerosolizing the virus and spreading it. It applies to patients diagnosed or just suspected of having the virus.
But some nurses aren’t comfortable with it, pointing out that intubating someone takes a few minutes. Though the delay may seem minor, any holdup in a moment of cardiac arrest could lead to severe brain damage or even death...