I need help.... I have been an LPN for almost 10 years. When I received my Last CPR certification 2 years ago, I did not do the skills check-off. Is my CPR legal or not?? I have 5 weeks to go in the AD program and they tell me I could be kicked out of school? I am on the roster with the AHA. Doesn't that count? Someone please give some advice.
Thanks, a hopeful future RN

Wow. How did this come to light? I'm surprised that your instructor issued you a card as being CPR certified without doing a skills checklist; however having been issued a card I'm also surprised that you were questioned about it. Did they have you demonstrate the skills at all on a mannequin? Did you take a written test? I don't know the answer as to whether you are "legal" or not- but surely you wouldn't get kicked out of school! Seems to me your instructor was responsible for knowing what the requirements were when he/she gave the course. If they're issuing cards in a manner that does not meet requirements, then they'd have a lot of people who would be in the same position you are in.

Would your school let you go ahead and take another course and get re-certified? If they take the position that you have already been working in a clinical capacity without a "legal" card, then..... well I still don't understand how it came up in the first place. Also, if you didn't know at the time you were issued your card that there might be a problem, I don't see how you could be responsible.

Please keep us posted, I really would like to know how this comes out. And best of luck to you. Hopefully all will turn out well.

Besides, can't you renew CPR online now? I'm sure there's no way to do a skills checkoff in that case, only a written test. It may all come down to: what were the guidelines for the course you took; are the course and instructor AHA certified and approved; did you complete what was actually required at the course? (as opposed to, say, leaving early before the skills section?- but even if that was the case, why would they issue you a card if you hadn't completed?)

Alot of CPR courses have eliminated the test at the end of the course. They just observe what you do and determine wether or not you could do it if you needed too. If your case is right then the 100 RN students I go to school with would fail