When administering single rescuer adult CPR, what is breaths-to-compressions ratio?

GMCH Chandigarh - 2019

Nursing Foundation

Easy

Appeared in: GMCH Chandigarh - 2019

Explanation

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for Basic Life Support (BLS), the correct ratio for a single rescuer performing CPR on an adult is 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths.
This 30:2 ratio is optimized to provide a balance between circulating blood with chest compressions and providing oxygen with rescue breaths.
Minimizing interruptions in chest compressions is critical for maintaining perfusion to the brain and heart, and the 30:2 cycle is designed to achieve this.

Option B: Providing only one breath is insufficient to deliver adequate oxygenation. The standard protocol requires two breaths.
Option C: The ratio of 15 compressions to 2 breaths (15:2) is used, but not for single-rescuer adult CPR.
Option D: A ratio of 5 compressions to 2 breaths is incorrect for any standard CPR protocol. This would involve far too many interruptions for ventilations, severely compromising blood flow from compressions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Guidelines as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Mastery of the correct CPR ratio is a non-negotiable, fundamental skill for any nurse or healthcare provider, as it directly impacts patient survival during cardiac arrest.
Performing high-quality CPR involves not just the correct ratio, but also ensuring a compression rate of 100-120 per minute, a depth of 2-2.4 inches (5-6 cm), allowing full chest recoil, and minimizing interruptions to less than 10 seconds.
What if? If an advanced airway (like an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway) is placed, the protocol changes. Compressions become continuous at a rate of 100-120/min, and one breath is given every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min) without pausing compressions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key parameters of the scenario: 'single rescuer', 'adult', and 'breaths-to-compressions ratio'.
Recall the standard Basic Life Support (BLS) guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Remember that for adults, the emphasis is on maximizing chest compressions. The universal ratio for an adult is 30 compressions to 2 breaths, regardless of whether there is one or two rescuers.
Scan the options to find the one that matches the 30:2 ratio.
Option A, '2 breaths every 30 compressions', correctly states this ratio.
Mentally check the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Recognize that 15:2 is for two-rescuer child/infant CPR, and the other ratios are not standard.

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