[HD-RN]

man o man....new grad (8 months out) two codes ....and one surviving patient! at one point we even had torsades for a rhythm. its really wicked to see that across the monitor....

[suzy253]

Sounds rough! Torsades was my first code. I'll never forget it.

[Christie RN2006]

We had someone going in and out of torsades all night long one time... he was still alive the next morning! I never did hear what ended up happening to him, but I'm guessing he didn't make it just because of everything going on. Coding patients multiple times is pretty typical in the ICU... If they are unstable enough to code once, they will most likely code again.

[gradcare]

So what was the cause ? antipsychotics ? low mg other meds???

[CVICURN2003]

Originally Posted by HD-RN

man o man....new grad (8 months out) two codes ....and one surviving patient! at one point we even had torsades for a rhythm. its really wicked to see that across the monitor....

Welcome to ICU....you must be an adrenaline junkie too!!!! some people do live to walk back in that door and see you...that is what makes all of hard work and BS worth it. I see the sickest of the sick and LOVE IT, but I love to see them walk around the unit to visit before they leave the hospital to go home.

[DutchgirlRN]

Originally Posted by CVICURN2003

Welcome to ICU....you must be an adrenaline junkie too!!!! some people do live to walk back in that door and see you...that is what makes all of hard work and BS worth it. I see the sickest of the sick and LOVE IT, but I love to see them walk around the unit to visit before they leave the hospital to go home.

God Bless the unit nurses!!!! and Salute!!! I absolutely "hated" being pulled to one of the units. The last time I was pulled....I flat refused and gave a 2 weeks notice.

[hajiagambo]

I don't work in critical care, but I had a pt that coded 4 times b/4 checking out. He was 46 yrs old with AIDS and CD4 count of 3. He weighed 43 kilos and was 6ft tall at the time. By the time he finally passed, I guess every single rib bone was broken. I was happy for the poor guy when he diad.

[HD-RN]

i forgot to include his issue....septic shock
poor guy did pass away at about midnight that night.

[stephlucasrn2008]

we had a code with torsades one night when I was working as a monitor tech...

the monitor rang out vfib/vtach and i just knew it was the real deal and not an itchy person... they coded the poor guy for about an hour... shocked him a grand total of 12 times... and they left the tele pack on him the entire time... so it was basically our entertainment for a good while...