What is the ratio of two rescues for adult patient CPR?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2017

Explanation

The American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for Basic Life Support (BLS) recommend a universal compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2 for adult victims of cardiac arrest.
This 30:2 ratio applies to both single-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR scenarios for adults.
The standardization for adults simplifies training and improves rescuer recall and performance during an emergency, prioritizing high-quality chest compressions with minimal interruptions.

Option A: This ratio is not a standard recommendation in any current BLS or ACLS guideline for any age group.
Option B: The correct protocol requires two rescue breaths after every 30 compressions, not one. Providing only one breath would result in inadequate ventilation.
Option D: This ratio is specific to two-rescuer CPR for pediatric patients (children and infants), not adults.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Ratios to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Adhering to the correct 30:2 ratio for adults ensures a balance between circulating oxygenated blood via compressions and providing oxygen via ventilations, which is crucial for patient outcomes.
In a clinical setting, the nurse's role includes initiating high-quality CPR immediately and leading or participating in the code blue team, where clear communication of these ratios is essential.
What if? If the patient was a child and two rescuers were present, the ratio would change to 15:2. This provides more frequent breaths, which is vital as pediatric arrests are often due to respiratory failure, unlike the primarily cardiac origin in adults.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: 'two rescuers,' 'adult patient,' and 'CPR ratio'.
This is a factual recall question based on Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines.
Recall the standard compression-to-ventilation ratios. Remember that for adults, the ratio is simplified to 30:2 regardless of the number of rescuers.
Differentiate this from the pediatric guidelines, where the two-rescuer ratio changes to 15:2.
Compare your recalled knowledge to the options provided and select the one that matches the adult two-rescuer protocol.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QftwUWwavJms01lzeJ5rfs

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

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 610-612

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 3 p. 45-47

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2017

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.