Does every hospital have a 'code team'?

[DMR1]

Im in first year nursing, and we were watching a documentary in class. In the documentary, when a patient goes code (is that what you call it when their heart stops?) a code team came in and got to work saving the patient's life.

We were never told who the code team is comprised of. The instructor said it was a team of specially trained people, but that's it.

Are nurses and doctors on a code team? Can RN's work on code teams?

[kimmicoobug]

Our code team consists of the code RN which is either an ICU or an ER RN, the recorder-med surg or ortho/neuro RN (but usually med surg gets it despite our crazy nights), ER doctor, RT, and house supervisor. With this flu bug that is going around, there have been lots of codes recently. I frequently get assigned recorder, usually don't have a problem with this unless my load is super busy.

[trsnurse]

okay this is a late response... we have a code team, just recently re-vamped by the higher powers that be... Us ER nurses used to respond in any common areas of the hospital such as the cafeteria, the lobby, etc. basically no in patient rooms-that was left up to the family practice resident MD's and the ICCU RN's, and the floor RN. They have since included the ER RN's to respond to these "in house" codes (meaning we have I guess graduated to be good enough) to respond to patient room codes. So with this new implementation, one may wonder what does an ER nurse do when she/he responds to a patient room for a CODE BLUE? Well this experienced RN will for one RUN to the said code (which is on the other side of the hospital and up the stairs to floors 2-6-where ever said code is called) then she/he enters the room and (all her experience is worthless) she is now at the hands of a floor nurse (who may have never read a monitor and wouldn't know v-tach from SR) and is to WRITE!!!! THE CODE. HOW'S THAT FOR STAMPING OUT DISEASE AND SAVING LIVES?!?!?!?!:uhoh21:

[SmilingBluEyes]

We have a code team.

The intern and resident run the code per ACLS protocol

A critical care nurse administers the medications

A resp. therapist intubates

The orderly comes and helps with compressions

The nurse whose patient it is documents

The chrage nurse makes calls and makes sure the floor runs o.k.

The rest of the staff stay out of the way but are gophers

sounds like how it's done where I work.

[mattsmom81]

We are NOT a teaching hospital. Code team is ICU and/or ER RN directing til an MD/DO can arrive to help. RT manages airway and coordinates intubation if needed. (most experienced intubates)Medsurg nurses record. Supervisor coordinates needs.