First aid is an essential part of medical care. Nursing students are exposed to their work environment right from the moment they start their training. Students already trained in handling different health emergencies are always at an advantage. The first aid course and CPR training relate to the duties and roles of nurses. They are usually the first responders when medical emergencies occur. The nature of the work of nurses makes it necessary for them to be conversant with the essential early medical care skills. 

The first care or assistance given to patients can hasten their recovery. In cases where the first aid provided is not professional patients end up worsening and taking longer times to recover. In other cases, the patient might also die or incur complications due to poor management attracting lawsuits from the family.

When a nursing student comes to face with an emergency, they need to think and act fast to save lives. The ability to manage a crisis, like COVID-19, is highly dependent on the level of skills and experience. The CPR and first aid training offer both expertise and hands-on experience for the management of different health emergencies. Patients have expectations of getting immediate assistance from the staff they interact within hospitals. Moreover, running around to call for help leaving victims in critical conditions paints a bad image on the competence levels of the hospital. (more…)