Critical care for children

A group of Culpeper Surgery Center nurses received a hands-on lesson in critical care Saturday and Sunday, earning a specialized certification in the end.

The two-day Pediatric Advanced Life Support course featured CPR practice, effective respiratory management, defibrillation, recognition and treatment of infants and children at risk for cardiopulmonary arrest, vascular access, resuscitation team concept, pediatric assessment, core case testing in respiratory, circulatory and cardiac.

Dr. Khalid Athar, medical director and anesthesiologist for Culpeper Surgery Center, said the purpose of the course is to make sure his entire staff is fully trained and certified in pediatric critical care.
After the two-day course and written exam, all nine nurses received their PALS certification Sunday.

Inside one of the recovery rooms, John Mitlacher, an instructor for Critical Concepts Medical Education, opened his airway bag and explained the contents: Oral and nasal airways, tube introducer, carbon dioxide monitor and surgical blades.

“This is probably the easiest and best airway kit that you can put together for the doctor that you can possibly think of,” said Mitlacher, as he removed the medical equipment from the bag. “It’s that simple.”

After demonstrating the proper way to open a patient’s airway, Mitlacher watched as all nine Culpeper Surgery Center nurses practiced the procedure.

“Hyperextend the neck. Going in the right angle and I’m going to go behind the tongue,” said Kim Nomeyko, as she talked her way through the procedure. “And I got it.”

Watching her every move, Mitlacher repeated the process to make sure Nomeyko and the entire staff understood every step of the procedure.

“My philosophy is the more chances you get to do this in a controlled environment, the better you are in an uncontrolled environment,” Mitlacher said.

“Because once the patient is down and the gag reflex is gone you can actually see how well that oral airway works,” he explained.

In the next room, Mitlacher demonstrated the proper way to perform CPR on a child and an infant.

“From the hips. No legs. No back. No arms. Nothing. It’s all in the hips,” Mitlacher explained, as he bent over the stretcher to perform the procedure
“The more often you practice this, the better off you’re going to be in CPR,” he said.

Established in 2003, Culpeper Surgery Center is an outpatient facility on Sunset Lane featuring two operating rooms, two recovery areas, and a room designated for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

Critical Concepts is a Florida-based health care agency that provides comprehensive hands-on and advanced training for companies and health care organizations nationwide.

Athar explained the reason for putting his staff through this extensive two-day training.

“The goal of the PALS course is to aid the pediatric health care provider in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to efficiently and effectively manage infants and children in critical events, resulting in improved outcomes.”