My first code-feedback appreciated! - Page 2

Great job!! I have only been in a code once, when I was shadowing in the ER as a nursing student. I think it's totally different when it's your patient who you've been taking care of all day, and you have the opportunity to intervene early. Kudos to you for starting CPR early and getting the others to the scene quickly. It's difficult to keep a cool head in those situations. Plus, the fact that you did so great will give you confidence in future situations.

Sounds like you did a great job! Especially since you're the one that discovered him, felt he didn't look "right." Sometimes, that subjective data is all you have, even if everything else looks good. You saved his life; if any more time had elapsed, the outcome could have been much different. True, you don't know what his outcome will be, and it may be a poor one anyway, but you did what you could. I was going to say: where was the nurse? She should have run in there, calling people to help as she was running in there, but as it turns out, it doesn't sound like she handled the stress as well as you did.

Hopefully, she'll learn from this one, and do better next time, but it's really important that you remain calm in an emergency so you can think clearly, which you did. You didn't cause the patient to code, so there's no reason to panic; all we can do is prevent everything we can (by intervening early if possible), but sometimes, and you'll learn as you gain more experience, people just code and/or die suddenly without warning. This isn't typical, but it does happen. Once you're in a few codes as an RN, you'll feel comfortable. It's pretty routine actually, and when it's your patient, you're able to give some possible causes to the doc as you're doing compressions, pushing drugs (get ACLS certified when you graduate), etc.

Sounds to me like you did a great job, especially for your first code. Just start you basic ABC's (or CAB now), call for a code, let the team take over and be available to run for stuff because you know best where to get it! The guy had a PE which would explain his sudden arrest.

You did great! You knew your patient and you knew something wasn't right. You also didn't freeze up and were able to function under pressure and did all the right things to help him. And crying isn't a problem so long as you can keep it together when you need to and it sounds like you did just that. I cried after my first code too, but my reaction was delayed. I got off shift, I drove home, and as I sat in my driveway I just started crying. I had gotten to know the man and it freaked me out that he crashed so suddenly and was unable to be resuscitated. Makes me appreciate life more.

You, my dear, are an inspiration, and I'm the one ahead of you (in nursing school). Your actions saved his life!!!!!! You, becoming a nurse is going to be a blessing to the patients you care for. God bless and good luck in nursing school!!!

Sounds like you have good instincts. And a kind heart.

Next time remember your ABC's. Start compressions as you call for help.

It gets easier.

You did GREAT! Every one of us has 20/20 hindsight about what we should've done better, faster, etc. You listened to that inner voice--which is totally awesome! It is perfectly normal and ok, imo, to have a few minutes of shock after an event. It is perfectly normal to cry. But you pulled it together and went back to work. That is what you have to do.

You're going to be a great nurse! Now you just have to get thru school and NCLEX! You can do it!

Good job!
Don't feel bad about crying...most of us do from time to time.
What is important is that there was someone concerned about you and allowed you to cry in private.

WAY TO GO for your fast action!!! My dear friend died in his 20's of a pulmonary embolism in the hospital when he was about to be discharged after a motorcycle accident. He and his wife had just had twin baby boys 4 months earlier.