Which unit has the most code blues?

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 11, 2014

I think (as others have pointed out) the units with sicker pt's have more codes (and IR). I worked on a cardiac step down unit and we had codes on a pretty regular basis. It was still a bit of a mess but we had them enough that someone usually knew what was going on. We were all ACLS too. Lots of Rapids too. But that's usually to be expected with post MI's, cardiac drips, lobectomies, etc. They're just more fragile.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 11, 2014

Thanks. We had an unorganized med surg code recently and I just wondered...which unit gets more practice. It isn't us for sure.

Just out of curiosity, who runs your codes? At my facility, we have 2 critical care nurses who are designated as that shift's code blue nurses. Every code blue called out (excepting ER and OR as those are handled by the department) will have these nurses respond to run the code. Although I've only had the opportunity to witness 2 of them, having the designated staff really helped things run smoother than the codes I witnessed as a student where there were no designated code nurses.

wanderlust99 · Oct 11, 2014

I'd guess ED. As for ICUs, probably CVICUs. Some of the trauma heavy ICUs I've worked in will have frequent codes, but honestly we don't get many in other ICUs I've been in.

Caffeine_IV · Oct 11, 2014

Just out of curiosity, who runs your codes? At my facility, we have 2 critical care nurses who are designated as that shift's code blue nurses. Every code blue called out (excepting ER and OR as those are handled by the department) will have these nurses respond to run the code. Although I've only had the opportunity to witness 2 of them, having the designated staff really helped things run smoother than the codes I witnessed as a student where there were no designated code nurses.

This is the first one that I've been to at this facility. An ER and ICU nurse came and ran the code. Not sure if they are charge nurses/coordinators on their units or just happened to be the available nurse.

This is the smaller hospital of this particular hospital system. 6 bed ICU (or tele/ICU), 25 bed med/surg unit. We cannot run the code even if we have ACLS per policy.

Paws2people · Oct 11, 2014

Late at night the cafeteria is a hot spot for Code M's. They're all fighting over the last pastry or pizza slice!

That or we have pregnant women who are told to walk around to induce labor. Somehow they always end up in the cafeteria and then we have a code for unexpected births.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

I have worked all 3 areas. It's interventional then the ED then ICU

Racer15, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

At my hospital I feel like the units probably run more codes. I'm in the ED and we have our fair share but I feel like a lot of our critical patients that we stabilize crash in the units.

Apples&Oranges · Oct 12, 2014

It seems that there are 3 or 4 a week that get called "X floor lobby next to Starbucks." Coincidence? ;-)

richardgecko · Oct 12, 2014

IMHO the ICU waiting room...lol