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?

its seems clear to me that there are studies out there that shows the positive effects of letting family members stay during codes or in any procedure. But it is also clear to me, (based on what members here in this forum had posted) that it will be necessary not to let family members in when they become hysterical. But the point i want to make here is that any institution should make a policy regarding this. But you cant make policy like "only non-hysterical family members can watch codes" or something like that. We have to prevent significant others from watching codes or surgical procedures as a precautionary measures to prevent anyone from interfering. There are also situations wherein one of the family member watching codes fainted. so now another code has been activated.

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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?

However, keeping them OUT of the way is a necessity. At my last job, we had the luxury of a hospital chaplain on call 24/7 as part of the code team. They were extremely valuable to families during codes, making sure they stayed out of the traffic and explaining what they were seeing, as well as praying with the believers who requested it.

Obviously, a family member who is shrieking and clutching and impeding the code team needs to be removed from the immediate area. However, if someone can be spared to remain with a family that chooses to stay nearby, having them there during the code is a good thing because it allows them to see that heroics were attempted no matter what the outcome is. Knowing that all that could be done was done can be a comfort.

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I highly agree that if the family member is not acting hysterically, they should be allowed to watch the code activities as long as someone is there explaining what is going on. I understand that in the NICU (where I'd possibly like to work one day) that having the parents by the bedsides is almost the norm if family is there when the code takes place.

I thought that having a chaplain on 24/7 was standard in most hospitals, and would be there in the case of a code. I think that this should be a requirement, because someone DOES need to be there for the family. What's going on is chaotic enough and the staff doesn't have the time to explain everything. Maybe it's best to have someone who's role is specfically that, explaining what goes on to the family, and that's the person's only role. That way if a family member has questions or even passes out, someone can be there to attend to them w/o the staff having to break away from their extremely important tasks to attend to a fainting victim.

I'm wondering, does your hospital have anyone like this? I know that many hospitals have rapid response teams, a sort of code prelude. Of course, this is for the pt. I'm wondering if it would be feasible to have something like this to call for the family when there is time and a code is pending.

Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
its seems clear to me that there are studies out there that shows the positive effects of letting family members stay during codes or in any procedure. But it is also clear to me, (based on what members here in this forum had posted) that it will be necessary not to let family members in when they become hysterical. But the point i want to make here is that any institution should make a policy regarding this. But you cant make policy like "only non-hysterical family members can watch codes" or something like that. We have to prevent significant others from watching codes or surgical procedures as a precautionary measures to prevent anyone from interfering. There are also situations wherein one of the family member watching codes fainted. so now another code has been activated.

How about the numerous number of men who faint or vomit during their children's births. I think the number is small enough not to warrent a change in that policy.

However, you make an excellent point. No family presence should be initiated without a written policy and formal training.

Family presence should not be offered to every family member. Usually there are clues someone is emotionally not able to handle the situtation. SO yes, there should be a policly "only non-hysterical family members can watch codes". That is perfectly appropriate.

I don't advocate every single family member 100% of the time be offered to stay.

Emergency room nurses deal with similar situations in who to allow into the emergency room and who not to. Or who to escort out and who not too.

Granted one can't predict when a quietly coping person is going to explode and jump on a patient, or faint.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I highly agree that if the family member is not acting hysterically, they should be allowed to watch the code activities as long as someone is there explaining what is going on. I understand that in the NICU (where I'd possibly like to work one day) that having the parents by the bedsides is almost the norm if family is there when the code takes place.

I thought that having a chaplain on 24/7 was standard in most hospitals, and would be there in the case of a code. I think that this should be a requirement, because someone DOES need to be there for the family. What's going on is chaotic enough and the staff doesn't have the time to explain everything. Maybe it's best to have someone who's role is specfically that, explaining what goes on to the family, and that's the person's only role. That way if a family member has questions or even passes out, someone can be there to attend to them w/o the staff having to break away from their extremely important tasks to attend to a fainting victim.

I'm wondering, does your hospital have anyone like this? I know that many hospitals have rapid response teams, a sort of code prelude. Of course, this is for the pt. I'm wondering if it would be feasible to have something like this to call for the family when there is time and a code is pending.

Any thoughts?

Our chaplain is not involved in codes unless invited. He/she must respond to every trauma brought into the ER. But they carry a beeper and during slow nights are even allowed to go home and be beeped when a trauma arrives. So we do have 24-hour coverage. I think the Chaplin is the natural person to be with a family member during a code, but in all hospitals it is not feasible.

We don't have a rapid response, it's up the patients nurse to rescue an impending critical patient with the resources of the rest of the floor. Someone usually calls the family in a change in patient condition. We do have a code team that arrives for every code.

I agree with you 100% there should be a person designated to be with the family one-one-one during a code, if not the chaplin, a nurse (after given proper inservicing). Most places don't realize it, but they already do this to an extent. Most floors that escort families out of the room usually don't leave them alone, a nurse, a CNA, or someone is looking after them wherever they are, or frequently giving them updates, etc.

I understand that in tiny hospitals this isn't always possible.

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Specializes in Palliative, Geriatics.

No, i would not want to see a family member during a code. Especially if it was my child. I would break down. :o

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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.

I personally have a hard time with this new "POLICY" also. I have seen families allowed in the room during a Code situation, and the problem is that the family is not emotionally stable to understand everything that is going on. The nurse is trying to save the patient, but it also takes another hand to take care of the family and keep them from interrupting the "CODE". I personally do not think that it is a good idea!!

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I personally have a hard time with this new "POLICY" also. I have seen families allowed in the room during a Code situation, and the problem is that the family is not emotionally stable at this point to understand everything that is going on. The nurse is trying to save the patient, but it also takes another hand to take care of the family and keep them from interrupting the "CODE". I personally think that it is not a good idea unless you have a chaplain or others of that sort present and prepared to deal with the family.

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Maybe we should address this with patients at the same time we discuss advance directives and the like so the patient can decide if they would like to allow family to observe or not. Then family could decide if they wish to observe.

I think we underestimate the understanding that many families have. I don't feel it is our place to decide such personal things for family members. For myself, I feel less confident in a person who does not want me around than I do in one who doesn't mind. The one who is comfortable and self-confident enough to have me around as a family member is the one I trust enough to leave alone with my loved one.

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As a former ER nurse, I vote NO to family members present during codes. There are never enough nurses, or the chaplain is still 1hr away, to tend to both the family and the patient. I cringed when I read a post that said families "deserve" to be present during a loved ones rescucitation efforts. NO ONE deserves any such thing. This is not a spectator sport. When my beloved mother was dying in the hospital (unbeknownst to us), she knew it and send us all home (demanded we go home to rest)....saying she would be alright. That night she passed away and to this day I know that by sending us home she was sparing us undue heartache at what was about to happen. She kept her pride and dignity as she always had. To have watched anyone pounding on her chest would have been an awful memory to deal with.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Thanks everyone for your opinions on this subject. I really enjoy these stimulating conversations. Thanks again everybody.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I cringed when I read a post that said families "deserve" to be present during a loved ones rescucitation efforts.

I never said they deserved to. What i DID say it that they deserve the choice.

This is not a spectator sport.

No one said it was.

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