NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy
What is the purpose of chest compressions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?
Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st
Explanation
- The primary goal of CPR is to provide temporary blood flow and oxygen delivery to the body's vital organs during cardiac arrest.
- Chest compressions act as an artificial pump, squeezing the heart to force blood into circulation when the heart is unable to do so on its own.
- This manual circulation is critical for preserving brain and heart function until advanced life support can be administered.
- High-quality compressions that meet specific metrics for rate, depth, and recoil are directly associated with improved outcomes from cardiac arrest.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: This is incorrect. Chest compressions are a mechanical action to pump blood.
- Option C: This is incorrect. Providing oxygen to the lungs is the function of rescue breathing (ventilation), not chest compressions.
- Option D: This is an indirect goal, not the primary purpose. The immediate mechanical purpose of compressions is to circulate blood.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Purpose of Chest Compressions in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- High-quality CPR is a critical, life-saving nursing skill. Adherence to guidelines on rate (100-120/min), depth (at least 2 inches/5 cm in adults), and allowing full chest recoil directly impacts patient survival.
- Nurses must prioritize minimizing interruptions in chest compressions. Any pause longer than 10 seconds causes a critical drop in coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure.
- What if? If the patient were an infant, the technique would change to using two fingers (for a single rescuer) or the two-thumb-encircling hands technique (for two rescuers), with a compression depth of about 1.5 inches (4 cm).
How to Approach the Question
- This is a factual recall question about a fundamental emergency procedure.
- First, identify the core action described in the question: 'chest compressions' in 'CPR'.
- Next, recall the primary physiological goal of this action. Ask yourself, 'What does pushing on the chest physically do?'
- Evaluate each option to determine which one describes the direct, mechanical purpose of the action.
- Option A (conduction) relates to electricity. Option C (oxygen) relates to breathing. Option D (brain activity) is an outcome. Option B (circulation) describes the movement of blood, which is the direct result of pumping the heart.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Purpose of Chest Compressions in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Stem keywords: chest compressions, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, purpose
- Lead-in keywords: What is
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Qfovj-rX9SH3fA2t0v3v8Y
Reference Book
E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 609-611
E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 5 p. 7-9
E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 3 p. 46-48
Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 shift 1st
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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