Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNR) VS CPR

Fact Checked

Understanding CPR and DNR Orders

• CPR is performed in order to allow the normal restoration of an individual’s heart rhythm and beating. This plays a key role in ensuring the survival of the patient. It is important however to realize that the rates of success following administration of CPR are very low in patients suffering from cancer.
• The relationship between CPR orders and DNR (which essentially means that you Do Not Resuscitate) arises from the fact that a DNR is an order that is recognized by the law, and which informs the professional medical team at hand not to perform CPR in the event that the patient’s heart stops beating/breathing stops.
• As a result of the critical roles that the two entities play, it is imperative to discuss DNR orders in light of health care issues well before a crisis arises. This allows swift management and also allows the patient to have their life end as they will have desired.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDM-Sw-fibo” width=”220″]

The Basics in CPR

CPR refers to the technique where chest compressions and rescue breaths are administered to an individual whose heart has stopped beating. It is also provided in cases where the patient has suddenly stopped breathing. Considered a life saving technique, CPR is helpful because it assists to ensure that blood flows to the heart as well as to the vital organs of the body. The process of CPR is multi-facetted, and will often include the following:

• Chest compressions offered manually by placing both hands at the mid-point of the chest.
• Defibrillation, an integral part of CPR orders as it involves the transmission of shock waves to the heart with the aim of restoring normal rhythm.
• Medication that is used to trigger the activity of the heart.
• Rescue breaths facilitated by mouth-to-mouth actions. This is, however, eliminated in the process of hands-only CPR which, just as the name suggests, eliminates the need of mouth-to-mouth.
• Mask ventilation that makes use of a bag valve. This is a large bag that is often used alongside a face mask and which is pressed by hand to force oxygen into the patient’s lungs.
• The use of a breathing tube that is inserted into the patient’s lungs through the throat.

What are DNR Orders All About?

Having established what CPR orders involve, it is imperative to understand what DNR orders are all about, and what the implications of the same are on patients. A DNR order is written well in advance, and which instructs medical personnel not to perform CPR on the patient. More importantly, DNR orders are only enforced when the patient is unable to make their wishes known. In other words, medics will perform CPR immediately a patient’s heart stops, unless there is a DNR that effectively cancels the CPR orders. This makes it possible for the medical team at hand to ensure that the patient is getting the care that they wished.