Can Nurses Do Precordial Thumps?

The technique is performable by an individual, but its success rates are low. If the procedure fails a healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, and technicians, will be needed to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

When should a precordial thump be used?

Precordial thump may be effective only if used within seconds near the onset of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and so should be used only when the arrest is witnessed and monitored. There is no evidence that precordial thump improves recovery in unwitnessed cardiac arrest.

Is precordial thump still recommended for VT or VF?

The American Heart Association (AHA) currently recommends the precordial thump as the initial maneuver in treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and monitored ventricular fibrillation (VF). These recommendations are based largely on anecdotal reports of successful "thump-version" of asystole, VF, and VT.