what would you do?

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in med/surg, ortho/neuro, ambulatory surg.

Ok hypothetical question here... lets say you go into a patients room right after report and you find the pt not breathing and no pulse you have no idea how long they have been like this do you call a code or not??? I would say yes, but I asked several nurses and they couldn't give me an answer!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

If the pt was not a DNR then I sure would call a code and start CPR. I would be calling that code loud and clear!!

(But then again I am a new grad and thats what I was taught in school...so lets see what some of the more experienced have to say..)

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Ok hypothetical question here... lets say you go into a patients room right after report and you find the pt not breathing and no pulse you have no idea how long they have been like this do you call a code or not???

well, here's your choices, assuming the patient is not DNR

1. You call a code and run it until the physician says stop.

2. You don't call a code and.... do what?... call the morgue? Notify the physician immediately?... sit down and have a donut? I mean, what do you plan to do if you DON'T call a code?

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I haven't started school yet or anything, but my response would be to start cpr and whatever the standard procedures are. How do you know they didn't JUST stop breathing???

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

what kind of donuts are we talking about ?

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I would call a code if patient wasn't DNR and then start CPR.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Call a code if the pt is full code and start CPR with ambu-bag.

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Specializes in OB, NP, Nurse Educator.

Many years ago after I gave my nursing students morning report I was making rounds checking on them. I noted one of them standing at the foot of the bed literally wringing her hands and looking obviously distressed. I asked him what was going on and she said "I think they're dead!" My heart leapt to my throat and I was ready to swing into action- until I heard this tiny voice say "No I'm not!" ;)

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Specializes in OB.

1.yell for help

2. start CPR- unless they are like way dead-i mean seriously if it looks like its been a few hours this is not going to help-

if you are told to stop, they are DNR, so be it, but at least you dont just stand there waiting for someone to tell you if they are code or no code and wasting precious time

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Specializes in ER.
what kind of donuts are we talking about ?

Krispy Kreme custard filled chocolate covered donuts????? MMMMMMM!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
what kind of donuts are we talking about ?

Dunkin Donuts Powdered Donut Holes with the Boston Cream filling.

If the pt. were not DNR, i'd call a code and start CPR.

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Specializes in Occupational Medicine, Orthopedics.

I was told everyone is considered a full code until or when you find out otherwise.

I have not worked in a situation that would warrant the decision, but when I was doing clinicals at a nursing home, I wondered what the protocol would be. As a student, or maybe a floater, you might not know off the top of your head whether there was a DNR order signed or not. So therefore, (I was told) everyone is a full code upon arrival and must initiate life saving measures until otherwise informed. I can see the reasoning in this, but then again it's a strange subject.

Can anyone verify this? I never did verify the information, or ask for verification, which I should have!

Blue

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