Calling a Code

[Bella36RN]

SO... I was coming onto shift the other night and getting report and all of a sudden a code is called to one of our rooms. I had not been on so did not know who was in that room. But one of the other nurses knew who it was and ran out the door. All of a sudden the nurse screams that she is a DNR not to touch her. I walk out in the hall and EVERYONE was there the doc, a ton of other nurses. Anyways...come to find out the Aide called the code and had no idea about the DNR status. Our unit looked like a bunch of morons. My question is...aren't the aides suppose to get the nurse in a situation like that?

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

I've called a code as a tech. First time I did chest compressions too. The doc was very impressed with little ol' me.

[kmoonshine, RN]

Assuming she is BLS certified, she did the right thing: call for help.

[BabyRN2Be]

Definitely not at the hospital work at...they will hound you for as long as they see fit. It is a small town hospital and if you mess up they will joke about it for months to come

First of all, I don't know if I'd put up with that sort of environment.

Secondly, wonder if management would prefer to be hounded in a legal forum because someone did NOT call a code on someone who was full-code status?

Gee, that would look great:

Attorney: It is known that you walked into the room and you found Mrs. X unresponsive.

CNA: Yes.

Attorney: And according to BLS, what are you supposed to do in that situation?

CNA: Call for help.

Attorney: And why did you not call for help?

CNA: I was afraid I'd be razzed for several months after this.

Attorney: Why would you be "razzed" like this?

CNA: It's the culture at our hospital to do so.

Attorney: And Mrs. X should have paid with her life because of this culture?

CNA: Ummm...

Attorney: Did she know about this culture when she was admitted?

CNA: *sound of profusely sweating CNA*

OK, I know it's hyperbole but maybe I've made my point. :)

[TazziRN, RN]

Definitely not at the hospital work at...they will hound you for as long as they see fit. It is a small town hospital and if you mess up they will joke about it for months to come

Then there is something inherently wrong with the hospital you work at. As mentioned above this would be a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

[queenjean]

Oh, my hospital's small, too, and they'd definitely give you a hard time, but in a joking sort of way. You'd hear about it for a while, but it wouldn't be mean spirited.

I swear, our night shift has the sense of humor of 12 year old boys (myself included). I'd totally tease anyone who called a code in a wrong situation. I'd expect to get teased. But in a "Remember when you couldn't tell if so-and-so was breathing, so you called the code and scared the crap out of her, you big dork," sort of way, not in a "You are wasting my time, you talentless, incompetent schmuck" sort of way.