If there are two CHO/nurses (rescuers) during CPR in an adult patient, what should be the chest compression to ventilation ratio?

1. A

   12:1

2. B

   30:1

3. C

   30:2

4. D

   15:2

Appeared in: UP CHO - 2018

Explanation

• According to current Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines, the recommended chest compression-to-ventilation ratio for an adult in cardiac arrest is 30:2.
• This ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths remains the same for adults regardless of whether there is one rescuer or two rescuers.
• The consistency in the ratio for adults simplifies the protocol and emphasizes the importance of continuous, high-quality chest compressions.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: A ratio of 12:1 is not a standard recommended ratio for CPR in any patient population under current guidelines.
• Option B: A ratio of 30:1 is incorrect. The standard protocol requires two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions for a patient without an advanced airway.
• Option D: This is a common point of confusion. The 15:2 ratio is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for two-rescuer CPR on infants and children, not adults.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to The concept tested is the correct chest compression to ventilation ratio for two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an adult patient, as per Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Knowing the correct CPR ratio is a critical skill for nurses. Using the wrong ratio (e.g., 15:2 on an adult) can lead to inadequate perfusion and ventilation, reducing the chances of survival.
• In a two-rescuer scenario, one nurse typically manages chest compressions while the other manages the airway and ventilations, switching roles every 2 minutes (or 5 cycles) to prevent fatigue and maintain the quality of compressions.
• What if the patient was a 5-year-old child? In that case, with two rescuers, the correct ratio would change to 15:2 to provide more frequent ventilations, as respiratory issues are a more common cause of cardiac arrest in children.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key elements in the question: 'two rescuers', 'CPR', and 'adult patient'.
• Recall the standard Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Differentiate the guidelines for adults versus pediatric patients (children and infants). This is the most critical step, as ratios often differ.
• Remember that for adults, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is consistently 30:2, regardless of the number of rescuers.
• Evaluate the options. Eliminate 15:2 by recognizing it's for pediatric two-rescuer CPR. Discard 12:1 and 30:1 as they are not standard ratios.
• Select 30:2 as the correct answer for an adult patient with two rescuers.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: The concept tested is the correct chest compression to ventilation ratio for two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an adult patient, as per Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines.
• Stem keywords: two rescuers, CPR, adult patient, chest compression to ventilation ratio
• Lead-in keywords: what should be

Question ID

Q9DozvA2m_Lw-kwniM_vCr

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 763-765