Who can administer CPR to patients?

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A story out of California is making national headlines. A nurse at a senior living facility called 911 for help but refused to give the patient in need CPR. The 87-year-old patient died.

24-Hour News 8 wanted to know what would happen if that took place here.

The nurse in California told the 911 operator the policy was not for staff to administer CPR.

Indiana has a set of guidelines for administering CPR.

With assisted living facilities, CPR and first aid administration are left up to the individual facility. Although these facilities are not subject to Indiana State Department of Health regulation, ISDH recommends that there be at least one person on duty at all times who is trained in CPR.

While the state says CPR guidelines are left up to individual assisted living facilities, state health officials recommend that at least one person on duty must be trained in CPR.

Marquette Manor’s executive director Steven Still says the rules at his facility are clear.

“Our policy is to begin CPR if we are presented with a situation that would demand that.” Still said, adding the only time nurses don't perform CPR is when a patient has a do not resuscitate and even then, it's tricky.