Code Lavender?!

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Hi,

I was just doing some holistic nursing homework and one of the questions was asking what it was. I had never heard of this until I looked up what it was.

Apparently it is like a code team, except it is a group of nurses trained in holistic care, that assist patients and staff who are experiencing high stress.

Is anyone using this at their hospital or other facility, and is it effective??

Annie

This reminds me of that Grey's Anatomy episode where they discover "derm" and the team of people going around massaging the staff.

I think it should be a federal requirement that all hospitals implement a Code Lavender team full-time immediately!

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Specializes in Pedi.

We had "code pizza" when I worked in the hospital. It was code for "the floor is so bat-**** crazy today that no one is going to remember to eat unless we put food in front of them." Budget cuts took this away from us sometime around when the economy tanked.

When I saw the title of this thread I thought maybe it was just another name for what we called "code pink" when I worked in the hospital- infant abduction. Other than code blue and code red, I've found a lot of variance in what other color codes mean between hospitals. And apparently code purple sometimes means child abduction in places where code pink is specifically infant abduction.

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Specializes in ICU.

We have talked about this at my work environment, but nobody has made a move to start the ball rolling. Code lavender, as I understand it, only happens after an event like a horrible violent death of a child, or a patient the staff got attached to, something like that. Something that could easily cause emotional trauma for the nurses.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
LOL, nope apparently being utilized by Cleveland clinic. When a code lavender is called a group of holistic nurses provides massages, aromatherapy, and spiritual care is what I got out of the article.

When I worked in the ER I would have called one of these every minute for staff and patients... we would have needed our own team.

Annie

I know a few people who work at the Clinic...I'll get back to you how often it is used

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Code Lavender at my hospital means the ED is at 140% capacity :dead:...it starts a snowball effect around the hospital of rapidly discharging patients and making beds where beds didn't exist previous. I like the Cleveland Clinic version more.

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My idea of calling a Code Lavender wouldn't involve holistic nurses rushing to my side in order to wave aromatherapy under my nose, or giving me a massage.

My idea of a proper Code Lavender call would (preferably) result in the entire Seattle Seahawks' offensive line showing up in their underwear. That would make everything all better.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

My husband is out of state/country for the...fourth? (sad, isn't it? I lost count) time since New Year's. My 3 yr old, who I affectionately refer to as Daddy's VSS, just announced "Daddy works too hard." when she asked why he doesn't come home, and I told her he had to take the airplane to work. Four of my five kids are sick. I have homework to do...which I'll tackle after everyone's sleeping. And a giant pile of laundry that is begging me to wash it. I want a code lavender!! Heck, at this point I'll settle for some lavender bubble bath! :roflmao:

No, in all seriousness I haven't seen this in practice. My hospital (a safety net) does provide a free doula service for laboring moms who are healing touch/aromatherapy certified; and I've seen healing touch-certified RNs at other hospitals. And then of course, we heavily utilize our chaplains for spiritual care. Personally I'd either want my own pastor or a chaplain for spiritual care, but otherwise I think it sounds like a great program!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
My idea of a proper Code Lavender call would (preferably) result in the entire Seattle Seahawks' offensive line showing up in their underwear. That would make everything all better.

:roflmao: That. Is. Awesome!!!

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Specializes in Mental Health.

"code lavender"....didn't work :(

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Code lavender isn't something that's announced overhead. Managers contact Spirtual Care to institute it and they respond within a certain period of time. It's called for various reasons such as if the floor has had several patient deaths, a traumatic event with a co-worker, and more. I think it lasts for 36 hours and they post signs on the floor saying Code lavender is in effect. They provide snacks, booklets on various issues (spiritual/mental health), small lotions for aromatherapy, etc. People are available for counseling. They also offer limited reiki and massage.

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My husband is out of state/country for the...fourth? (sad, isn't it? I lost count) time since New Year's. My 3 yr old, who I affectionately refer to as Daddy's VSS, just announced "Daddy works too hard." when she asked why he doesn't come home, and I told her he had to take the airplane to work. Four of my five kids are sick. I have homework to do...which I'll tackle after everyone's sleeping. And a giant pile of laundry that is begging me to wash it. I want a code lavender!! Heck, at this point I'll settle for some lavender bubble bath!

You totally made me think of the old "Calgon! Take me away!" commercials.

I hope you get a little respite soon :-)

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.
Code Lavender and Preventing PTSD in Health Care | Dike Drummond, M.D. Hope this helps...
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