Code blue: family at bedside????

[ljcraigrn]

Hi everyone!! I am trying to find some research and resources for a paper. My topic is "Code Blue: family members at bedside." I was wanting both sides of the issue. Nursing and family. Any help I could get would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

ljcraigrn:nurse::typing

[XB9S, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN, APN]

I just thought I would add this too, it is not appropriate for every situation, I have spent a great many years attending arrests, leading the resuscitations and teaching resuscitation in my hospital, I know the areas where a family witnessed resus would be horrendous and inappropriate and I know which areas are able to manage the resuscitation calmly, without screaming, shouting and panic and the whole episode is respectful, calm and structured, (our MAU is excellent.)

I can also recognise the dangers of witnessed resuscitation, I attended one in PICU where the child had been unwell for months had multi organ failure and the family had been given the first hint that there should be a consideration to withdrawl or treatment, unfortunately the child had arrested with the parents present, it was a long resuscitation and the mother who was supported cried please leave my baby die, she's suffered enough. It was called a short time after but when the realisation hit that mother she felt it had been stopped because she asked, she was devastated because she felt she had been responsible for he childs death. This is a real danger and the support during that resuscitation for that family had not been adequate which is why not all attempts are appropriate.

I suppose what I am saying is that even though theoretically I would support family witnessed resus there are lots of factors that need to be considered and if there is any doubt that the support for that family is not sufficient then it is not the right thing to do

[queenjean]

Do you really, truly want ME to use MY inner voice to make that decision?

Can you imagine how that'd go?

~faith,

Timothy.

Based on your postings, I'm trying to imagine what your inner voice is like. I'm imagining something along the lines of Dr. Cox....

My inner voice is probably somewhere between Rosanne and Dr. Dorian. Good thing it's "inner."

[nelsonho]

I've read through the discussion in this thread and I must say it makes me very sad to read some of the replies.

My wife has an irrational fear of doctors and hospitals and abuse as a teenager and she requested that during her first surgery that I be present. After much effort and pleading, one nurse even quoted "no way in hell I will have a husband in my OR", much deception and outright lies from doctors and hospital staff, we relented and she had the surgery. After much requesting we never ever found out what happened until our GP provided us with a post surgery report. The emotional damage and trauma lasted for several months after surgery. A year later we were in a small community with a rural hospital and my wife required further surgery. I have a medical science background and with the support of our GP I was able to accompany her through the entire case from start to finish. Recovery was rapid and as the eyes and ears for my wife, I was able to explain to her in detail what had happened during surgery. Now eight years later she requires further surgery, but since we are in a larger center She now refuses the further surgery because there is no way that I will be allowed to accompany her. The surgeon has agreed to allow me there as has the head of anesthesiology but the health and safety committee has taken the request to the insurance provider and was told that they would not allow it as coverage was not there. End of story. This is a special circumstance, because of the extreme emotional and trauma risk, because the surgery is for assessment re cancer but it is not going to happen because the insurance carrier said no. The head of anesthesiology said "medicine is a ship that is very hard to turn." It is and I am sad because I cannot change my wife's mind, her fear is too great, and I cannot influence the medical community to help her. Since there is only 20% chance that the tumor is cancerous, I pray the 80% is right. I have even explored going elsewhere in North America an have been able to find no place on this continent where this is possible. There seems to be no one that can help us.