Overview
Nurses are always responsible and accountable for their competence. Your
Professional Standards, Code of Ethics, and specific practice standards like
Duty to Provide Care guide how you respond in emergencies and how you respect client wishes.
Registration and certification
BCCNM does
not require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automatic external defibrillation (AED), or first aid certification for nurse registration.
Employer requirements
Employers may require certification or ongoing training for particular roles or settings, such as CPR and AED certification or re-certification. Review employer policies to determine the specific requirements for your workplace.
Nurses are expected to maintain the necessary skills required for their position; employers may provide or support relevant training opportunities.
Nurses practise within their scope of competence. If you are trained and qualified to perform CPR or use an AED, you may do so in accordance with your training. If you are not, you are still ethically obligated under the
Duty to Provide Care practice standard to do what you can in an emergency: call 911, get help, provide supplies, or support others to respond.
Respecting client wishes
- If a client has stated they do not want CPR (through advance directives, client representative, or other means), you must respect that choice.
- Other emergency treatments (e.g., choking response, treating anaphylaxis, responding to falls) may still be appropriate depending on the situation.
- Follow the
Consent practice standard: respect client rights, ensure informed decision-making, and involve the client representative when appropriate.
Resources