Code Training?????

CCL"Babe", BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2003

Any hospital I 've ever worked in the code carts need to be checked at least by the begining of the month, or every shift for expired drugs, equipment, etc. Maybe you could see if you could volunteer for that job. I think it's a JAHCO requirement, because when they were here, they wanted to look at the log for the past ? years.

I've found that different people seem to "fit" into different roles within the code team, depending on who's there. Most of the team eventually slides into roles they feel most comfortable with. When someone is new it can be awkard at first until they find their role. Some groups of people work together better than others.

Glad2behere · Mar 9, 2003

Our hospital has a CCU response team. 2 CCU RN's ACLS, an internist, and a resident on rotation, and an RT must wear the beeper. One of the RN's must be a male as they are better suited to prolonged CPR. The floor nurse is only responsible initiating the code, having the crash cart by the bedside, and starting BCLS if we are not there yet, and charting their own flow sheet and med callback. Pharmacy is simultaneously paged and they dispense whatever is not on the crash cart. Most of the time, so many internists show up room around the patient is at a premium. The CCU RN's must participate in intraunit codes in shift assignment. Having had 49 arrests last month hospital wide, with 26 of those in CCU, we get enough practice. It does make us very short staffed though when the response team is out on a code and we have an internal code in the unit. Then the ICU nurses are expected to help us cover temporarily, as they handle their own codes.

Ellen · Apr 25, 2003

I say ACLS is the only way to feel comfortable at a code - I have always seen extraneous people dismissed from codes, you can't have too big of a crowd! Anyone who doesn't feel comfortable to perform during a code should just step back and let the 'trauma junkies' take over, enough of them always show up at a code.

Ellen · Apr 25, 2003

I say ACLS is the only way to feel comfortable at a code - I have always seen extraneous people dismissed from codes, you can't have too big of a crowd! Anyone who doesn't feel comfortable to perform during a code should just step back and let the 'trauma junkies' take over, enough of them always show up at a code.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Apr 25, 2003

Gambro RN..

are you referring strictly to "specailty units" as in your dialysis unit?

There should be a protocol in place. We all have to be CPR/AED certified annually. But basically, we call 911 and initiate CPR until the ambulance gets there, and they take it from there.

That's our protocol. Nothing more, nothing less. Give the patient's blood back, start CPR. We don't give meds (although we have an "emergency kit" which is checked monthly for expired drugs, etc.), don't intubate, or anything like that. Doesn't happen often, thank goodness, but it's scary for the other patients when it does. We always make sure we screen the code patient and have one or two staff "carry on as usual" with the other patients to calm/reassure them.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Apr 25, 2003

Gambro RN..

are you referring strictly to "specailty units" as in your dialysis unit?

There should be a protocol in place. We all have to be CPR/AED certified annually. But basically, we call 911 and initiate CPR until the ambulance gets there, and they take it from there.

That's our protocol. Nothing more, nothing less. Give the patient's blood back, start CPR. We don't give meds (although we have an "emergency kit" which is checked monthly for expired drugs, etc.), don't intubate, or anything like that. Doesn't happen often, thank goodness, but it's scary for the other patients when it does. We always make sure we screen the code patient and have one or two staff "carry on as usual" with the other patients to calm/reassure them.

Surgical Hrt RN · Apr 30, 2003

I work in an openheart unit. We run our own codes, with the cardiac surgeon. All other codes in the hospital are run by a "code team" that consists of residents, house supervisor, resp. therapists, and nurses from the other 2 ICU's. My advice to any RN is to get ACLS certified. Where I work you have to be ACLS certified to work in an ICU. If you aren't an ICU RN then you should go and get certified. Check with your manager, the hospital may pay for you to get the certification. I just think that it should be mandatory for every RN.

Surgical Hrt RN · Apr 30, 2003

I work in an openheart unit. We run our own codes, with the cardiac surgeon. All other codes in the hospital are run by a "code team" that consists of residents, house supervisor, resp. therapists, and nurses from the other 2 ICU's. My advice to any RN is to get ACLS certified. Where I work you have to be ACLS certified to work in an ICU. If you aren't an ICU RN then you should go and get certified. Check with your manager, the hospital may pay for you to get the certification. I just think that it should be mandatory for every RN.

susanmary · Apr 30, 2003

Originally posted by wsu.rn
at the previous hospital i worked at, there was a code team: which consisted of icu er nurses docs etc.
now that i am at a new hospital the code team rotates through staff nursing. i work tele-med surg. i am new to this hospital and have not been on a cocde team bfore. i feel like i am being pushed. if the code pager goes off and my name is on the board i am expected to go. role being either recorder or med nurse.
i do not feel comfortable first of all i am never been oriented to the code cart or the code team. when i see my name on the board i tell resource i am not comfortable, i would rather go with another nurse a few times. the response i get is you can meet the pt care manager at the code. i have never worked in a hospital that does the code team this way. many mistakes i have heard have been made. i feel like if there was a regular code team of staff that does this repeatedly, codes would run more smoothly. input: how do your hosipitals do this?

We are required to attend a "mock" code during orientation, and can atttend optional "mock" code reviews -- just need to check with our nurse educator. We are validated regarding the crash cart, defibrillator, CPR, emergency meds, etc. -- and we need to revalidate EVERY year. I work on a med-surg-tele floor. We have no official code team.

Regarding your facility's practice -- yikes. I'd grab the clip board and start writing (recorder.) But we even get validated yearly regarding the recorder position! You should be oriented to the position, the crash cart, the meds/location, etc. Do you have a nurse educator? You need to meet with your manager regarding this -- if you don't get anywhere, then I'd write her a formal letter something like this:

Date

Dear :

As I stated in our conversation today, I am asking for orientation to the crash cart/code team. Although ______ (facility's name) does not offer a formal orientation/validation for the code team, I am requesting a class or review with a Nurse Educator. Thank you very much.

Respectfully,

Your Name

cc: personnel file

Sue

Edited after I had a cup of coffee.

susanmary · Apr 30, 2003

Originally posted by wsu.rn
at the previous hospital i worked at, there was a code team: which consisted of icu er nurses docs etc.
now that i am at a new hospital the code team rotates through staff nursing. i work tele-med surg. i am new to this hospital and have not been on a cocde team bfore. i feel like i am being pushed. if the code pager goes off and my name is on the board i am expected to go. role being either recorder or med nurse.
i do not feel comfortable first of all i am never been oriented to the code cart or the code team. when i see my name on the board i tell resource i am not comfortable, i would rather go with another nurse a few times. the response i get is you can meet the pt care manager at the code. i have never worked in a hospital that does the code team this way. many mistakes i have heard have been made. i feel like if there was a regular code team of staff that does this repeatedly, codes would run more smoothly. input: how do your hosipitals do this?