The nurse has just called a code and is preparing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a child. Where does the nurse position the hands for chest compressions?

Question

a. Puts both hands over the upper half of the child's sternum
b. Places the heel of one hand on the lower half of the sternum
c. Puts the heels of both hands on the lower third of the sternum
d. Places two fingers below the left nipple line at the sternum

Answer 1

B
The nurse uses the heel of one hand and places it on the lower half of the sternum to deliver chest compressions to a child to avoid traumatizing the distal sternal edge. Both hands placed on the chest of a child can deliver excessive pressure and risk serious trauma; in addition, the compres-sions are ineffective if the hand is placed too high on the sternum. Compressing the chest on the lower third of the sternum risks trauma to the distal sternal edge. Two fingers cannot deliver enough pressure to deliver effective chest compressions to a child.