Don't clean up patient after a code

JKL33 · Dec 23, 2017

I'm wondering if this conference was geared more towards codes in the ER, rather than on the units in the hospital?
It's our hospital's policy to allow the family to be present during the code. This is usually most helpful when resuscitation efforts have become futile. They can physically see what is going on and can see the team in action. It has reduced the length of time spent "past the point of no return" on futile codes. We always clean up the room and the patient after a code. We allow the family to spend as much time as they wish with the patient, unless it's a coroner's case.
So, I think the trauma conference might have been presenting this from an ER perspective where family may have not yet had a chance to arrive before the patient died. Even then, I would hate to leave the room dirty, with all the wrappers, vials, syringes, etc., strewn about. I wouldn't want anyone to slip and fall on anything. I would think it would be a liability to leave the room in disarray.

Yes...I assumed they were referring to ED/trauma codes. I'm in the ED. I think family presence is a worthwhile practice (with proper supports in place). If the family is present, this is a non-issue as there is no need to leave things in disarray under the guise of proving that we "tried everything." My opinion is that if they weren't there, they don't deserve the shock of walking in on the aftermath after all is said and done. And when they have been present during resuscitation efforts, I prefer to quickly clean things up as much as possible and give the family private time if they want it.

I said I wonder if this idea is coming our way because right now it isn't our practice in the ED to leave a huge gory mess in order to show what we tried to do for the patient - but it wouldn't be the first time an off-the-wall idea has gained traction.

RotorRunner · Dec 23, 2017

when you assume whether or not a case for the ME, how much more added time does that add on to the waiting family in the waiting room. I can see this as a complicated duty among you nurses-only to read a little bickering going on. WTD?

What is the question?

T-Bird78 · Dec 23, 2017

I was assisting on a female brought into the ER and the family was across the hall in a family room (not the waiting room). She'd been down 40 minutes before being brought in, paramedics did CPR en route, and we continued another 15 minutes in the ER. Physician called it and went to talk to the family. My preceptor and I (I was a student doing rotations in the ER) cleaned her face from the vomit and blood and brushed her hair. The tube was still in her mouth and c-collar was on--and that's when my preceptor recognized her as an employee at the hospital and the person who'd trained her on another floor. There are some thing we can't do, like removing certain tubes and equipment, but we most certainly can make the pt look a little better and at peace for the family.

Simonesays, BSN, RN · Dec 23, 2017

My Dad died a few weeks ago. They coded him at the nursing home. He was a DNR, and someone at the home "didn't have the papers", so I'm screaming NO CODE on the phone at 0600.
Thank God he wasn't resucitated.
Anyway, I got to the ED, and they brought me into the room to tell me, and then the RN brought me to see my Dad. He was covered and the room was mostly swept. No tube. Nothing, but I didn't peek under the covers.
He had been gone awhile. He must have died in his sleep, and they found him on rounds.
The simplicity of him being in an empty room on a gurney was good enough for me.
I just wish they would have made sure his eyes were closed.
*deep breath*

So sorry for you loss. That's terrible that they lost his DNR papers. A big yikes! My thoughts are with you and your family.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Dec 23, 2017

So sorry for your loss Fara. My thoughts are with you and yours.

I'm of the school we should always tidy up the patient and clean up what we can. I know some hospitals permit families to be there as the patient is coding, but I've never seen it. I guess it could be helpful if you had someone who wanted to see evidence of all heroic measures taken.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Dec 28, 2017

My Dad died a few weeks ago. They coded him at the nursing home. He was a DNR, and someone at the home "didn't have the papers", so I'm screaming NO CODE on the phone at 0600.
Thank God he wasn't resucitated.
Anyway, I got to the ED, and they brought me into the room to tell me, and then the RN brought me to see my Dad. He was covered and the room was mostly swept. No tube. Nothing, but I didn't peek under the covers.
He had been gone awhile. He must have died in his sleep, and they found him on rounds.
The simplicity of him being in an empty room on a gurney was good enough for me.
I just wish they would have made sure his eyes were closed.
*deep breath*

*hugs*

middleagednurse · Dec 28, 2017

If I had a family member code and die, I would be infuriated if no one cleaned them up after the code.