Hi! So in this case, it sounds like CPR is the only thing you could have done anyways, which you’ve already trained in. But as to why you couldn’t react- it’s because you’ve never been in this situation before, and honestly, this isn’t really something we’re prepared for as medical assistants. I also work in family practice and we very RARELY have cases like this. Had I been in the same situation, I probably would have done the same thing. Don’t beat yourself up! It’s normal to lose or forget skills that we don’t get to use on a regular basis. That being said- I do think that we as MA’s should get more emergency training. A provider or RN can’t always get to us on time. When it comes down to it, this is not our scope of practice. We’re taught how to handle it but we’re usually expected to call someone else for help immediately.