Systems and methods related to the field of cardiac resuscitation, and in particular to devices for assisting rescuers in performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are described herein. The system includes a chest compression device having force sensing capabilities, for providing feedback in enhancing the quality of acute care. The force sensor(s) may exhibit varying resolutions over different dynamic force ranges, for example, to provide information helpful to the resuscitative treatment. Chest compression devices that are able to sense force may be able to assist a system in providing accurate chest compression depth and rate information, as well as assess the amount of work exerted by one or more rescuers during the course of resuscitation. Force sensors described herein may employ relatively inexpensive components, such as pressure sensors, emitters, optical detectors, simple circuit boards, springs, compliant/resilient materials, electrically resistive layers, force-sensitive materials, amongst other suitable parts.