A 911 dispatcher begs a nurse to perform CPR on an unconscious woman, but it was against policy.
"We need to get CPR started. That's not enough. ok?" - Dispatch
"Yeah, we can't do CPR." - Nurse
"Okay, then hand the phone to a passerby. If you can't do it, hand it to the passerby and I'll have her do it. Or if you've got any sitting citizens there, I'll have them do it." -Dispatch
"No. No." - Nurse
"Anybody there can do CPR. Give them the phone please. I understand if your facility is not willing to do that. Give the phone to that passerby, then, that stranger. This woman is not breathing enough. She's going to die if we don't get this started. Do you understand?" -Dispatch
"I understand." -Nurse
"Okay." - Dispatch
"I am a nurse, but I cannot have our other senior citizens who don't know CPR--" -Nurse
"I will instruct them in it." - Dispatch
"--to do this. We're in a dining room." - Nurse
"I will instruct them. Is there anyone there who is willing...?" - Dispatch
"I cannot do that." - Nurse
"I don't understand why you're not willing to help this patient." - Dispatch
The conversation between the 911 dispatcher and the nurse at the Independent Living Facility in California went on for several minutes. Nobody was able to help the 87-year-old woman, until an ambulance arrived too late.
This story has made national headlines. The idea that a nurse could not perform CPR-- due to protocol. CBS NewsChannel 5 wanted to know what the protocol was in Cheyenne.
Here's a statement out of Holiday Retirement, who owns Whispering Chase.
"Given that we are an independent living community and do not provide medical services, our emergency policies are aligned with most public facilities (e.g. shopping center, movie theater), which is to call 9-1-1. Our associates then follow directions to the level they may individually feel comfortable or capable.
There is nothing in our policy that prevents employees from following directions of emergency services personnel." - Holiday Retirement
CBS NewsChannel 5 also spoke with the Executive Director of Aspen Wind, Sarah Green.
She says they have nurses at the facility at all times that are trained to respond to emergencies. To listen to the full interview, watch the video above.
