Family Witnessing Code Activities

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  1. Would You Want to Watch a Family Member Undergoing a Code>?

    • 125
      Yes, I want to see all that was done.
    • 178
      No, I wouldn't want to see a family member go through that type of pain.
    • 51
      Unsure at this time.

354 members have participated

With the new changes in allowing family members to witness code activities, would you want to watch your family member go through a code? I've heard this is done so that the family knows that the staff did all they could do, and to take the mystery out of codes. But would you want to watch a family member go through the pain of a code and all that it entails? What do you think?

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I personally would not want to watch a family member, or even an acquaintance involved in a code. I have a difficult enough time when it's my patient, whom I have no other ties to. I would have no problem if a family member wanted to be in the room during a code......But if it caused additional agony (to the viewer) afterward, I'd probably have second thoughts on this subject.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I have to say, yes. It was a most difficult time in my life, but, I am glad I did it. She was in no pain.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Yes.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Its a difficult situation. I personally would not want to watch my parents or anyone I know be in cardiac arrest and watch someone pump on their chest. However, I will say that I think it is a good idea for people to watch. I think it is sad watching CPR on someone who is in their 80s or 90s and has lived a long full life. When it is time to go, it's time to go. Let them go in peace. Maybe having family members present will help.

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Last time I renewed my CPR the medic who did it severly lectured me on the fact that nurses do not support the new trend. That is allowing the family to witness CPR. I did not appreciate being talked down to like that and told him I was aware of the new thinking on the subject. I also told him that this new policy had to be instituted by the individual health care facilities. I could not just go in to work and start a new policy. I did not tell him that I have mixed feelings about the subject and do not know if I approve or not. I therefore voted UNSURE AT THIS TIME.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Sorry,

This is a touchy-feely trend that will go back out of style when the lawsuits mount.

But more important, while it might be family advocacy, it's not patient advocacy and the patient is my PRIMARY objective, with families taking a backseat.

During a code, I need every ounce of my energy, focus, skill, and experience on that patient. Familes require, if nothing else, keeping an eye on what is said and how - and that extra eye, that off my patient eye, is not advocacy.

And everybody in the business knows that codes are clustered messes at times. When the doc asks for a spinal needle, or you choose the esoteric device here, and it takes 72 seconds for it to arrive, how is that gonna impact perceptions of outcomes.

The other thing is, how much longer are codes going to last, when they are clearly futile, because the family needs more than 10, 20, 30 minutes to believe in the closure.

This is bad medicine. But eventually, common sense will win out over touchy feely.

And that's just my opinion, even if it's a strong one, so let the debate begin.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
But eventually, common sense will win out over touchy feely.

Not at the rate things are going these days, unfortunately.

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I think it is a bad idea. Codes are not pretty, this isn't TV, it's loud, it's confusing, it's ugly...it isn't anything that a family member should see...it is just going to confuse the family more than help them, the staff in the code do not have time to explain anything.

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I believe, yes, they should be allowed. They should be able to see for themselves that everything possible was done. Are the results always good? Well obviously no. And for the family that doesn't want to be in there, they usually excuse themselves. Sometimes the family being there and seeing the code will actually end it early. They say to stop, the patient wouldn't want it, which in most cases is true.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

One thing that's comes to mind (thinking of the "man dies holding wife for epidural" thread) is how many lawsuits result from letting family watch a code.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Sorry,

This is a touchy-feely trend that will go back out of style when the lawsuits mount.

But more important, while it might be family advocacy, it's not patient advocacy and the patient is my PRIMARY objective, with families taking a backseat.

During a code, I need every ounce of my energy, focus, skill, and experience on that patient. Familes require, if nothing else, keeping an eye on what is said and how - and that extra eye, that off my patient eye, is not advocacy.

And everybody in the business knows that codes are clustered messes at times. When the doc asks for a spinal needle, or you choose the esoteric device here, and it takes 72 seconds for it to arrive, how is that gonna impact perceptions of outcomes.

The other thing is, how much longer are codes going to last, when they are clearly futile, because the family needs more than 10, 20, 30 minutes to believe in the closure.

This is bad medicine. But eventually, common sense will win out over touchy feely.

And that's just my opinion, even if it's a strong one, so let the debate begin.

~faith,

Timothy.

I respectfully disagree.

The family members deserve to see their loved one in this situation. Yes, many things happen that are bizarre to say the least. The family can observe events and treatments and see that their loved one is fighting for life because the healthcare providers are trying so hard.

No......it is not going away. In this day of heightened litigation, this is the best way for families to see first hand that their loved one was not "left to die". It has been proven that the family member that did not see that all was being done, is the very one that will seek litigation.

As for the code lasting longer, that surely depends on the physician and her/his management of the situation. As for when the family should come into the code........you would not bring them in with the first "shock", you would bring them in when there is a realiazation that this becoming futile, but, before all "hope" is lost.

This is a part of the closure process and it is here to stay.

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