First Code (Sorry it's long)

[RacheloneRN]

Hey Yall,

This is kind of a vent, but also any tips would be appreciated. I'm a new RN, 6 mos working OR and this week I had my first code. I am still being precepted, and have not experienced a code in any area of nursing. This week I was spending this week in a hospital that I had never been in that is connected to my facility, it was only my second day there. I had no idea what to do, I couldn't be a runner because I don't know where anything is. I wanted so badly to be able to help somehow, and didn't know if it would have just be best if I left the room or stayed.

Because I was in a large OR with only 1 set-up and plenty of room I stayed in the room and observed, knowing there will most likely be a code once I'm on my own (which will be very soon) and I know that I needed to have seen what goes on.

This having been my first code, I was upset by it, and I thought that I had controlled my emotions well considering, but I have had several people ask me in the last couple days if I was OK. I am now not sure that staying in the room was the correct thing to do. I know I was not in anyone's way, I did contribute a bit by running for a couple things and answering the phone.

I think that people asking how I was were sincerely concerned about me because I am such a new nurse. But I can't help but be insecure and worry that maybe I should have just left the room. I have spoken with a few people who were involved, including the circulator I was with that day, who told me that I was more of a help than I thought, but I just have a nagging feeling that maybe I didn't do the right thing.

I am still pretty shaken up over it. It was a very basic procedure that I have seen done in office under local, and the patient was young. ACLS lasted 40 minutes and the patient was defibrilated over 15 times. Speaking with the CRNA for the case the next day, he said it was a good example of how a code should be run. I have never seen such teamwork. They were finally able to restore a pulse and she was taken to ICU.

If anyone has thoughts on what they would want someone they were precepting to do in a similar situation, please let me know, I have a habit of beating myself up for things and just want to know if I did the right thing.

Thanks for listening.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

:icon_hug:Codes can be upsetting. You are a new RN, and no one will expect you to know everything. In a situation like that, even though you thought you weren't doing anything much, running for things and answering the phone helped. Especially in the OR where we're pretty much a self contained unit. We don't have everyone running from different parts of the hospital to help out.

You did the right thing by staying. You did help and plus it was part of your learning process. I was in a code when I was in NS, working as a surg tech. It was late and there were 6 of us in the whole OR-the PT lived but for 2 whole days afterward I went back and forth between feeling like I had had 20 cups of coffee in one sitting and wanting to crash. People said I had the "deer in the headlights" look for at least 3 days.

I know it's easier said than done, but don't beat yourself up. I agree with your co-worker that you probably helped more than you thought you did.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If you moved purposefully at all you did better than most. It's a real shock, so almost any reaction to a first code is OK. Unfortunately it's not something that can be recreated so you're perfectly ready. Each one gets easier.

[nessajune21]

I think that by staying you showed the staff that you were not only willing to help in anyway possible, but that you could handle the stress and uncertainty of the situation. You absolutely did the right thing by staying. Now you have an idea of what to expect when you are in this situation alone.

[SandraCVRN]

I would just take it that asking you i you are OK is a genuine concern. Are you OK? Period. Codes are very stressful weither the PT lives or not. Be glad they care.

The last time I lost a pt (young, that's always worse) I had to call in the next day and had a headache for days.

It's OK to feel sad, upset, insert emotion....

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Hello - to the OP, I know how you must be very upset about the code. It is always harder when it happens to a young person. You did do a great job even just by remaining in the room while the code was going on. I have been a nurse for 17 yrs. and I still remember 2 codes where the pts were young, not counting trauma codes, MVCs or stabbings.

The first was a baby that was only 3 months old born with genetic dx. That was in a small ER in a rural town. Everybody there knew the baby since the grandma worked at the hospital. That was the first intraosseous IV I had to stick. Not a good outcome.

The second one was a pregnant woman who was admitted with dx of hyperemesis grav. I had seen this patient on 2 occasions, one to restart her IV because she was so dehydrated the OB nurses couldn't get it, also because the pt. had been shooting up during the whole length of pregnancy. Then later I had to go back to her to place a Dobhoff tube. I was an ER/ICU nurse and one day not long after, the operator called a code on OB. Never a good thing, but most of the time it is an anxious dad that hits the code button on the wall.

Well, I had that feeling, and sure enough it was the OB patient I had met twice already. We were not able to get her back, the doc found out later that the pt's sign. other had brought her "a fix" that morning.

It's never easy during your first codes but even just observing can be beneficial to you. Try to keep that in mind and it will help you.

Anne, RNC :paw::paw::paw:

[rbs105, ADN, MSN, RN]

My thought is congrats on staying in the room-you showed you were interested, willing to be there if needed and not out in the hall bawling or puking (not like there's anything wrong with that:D).

I think everyone was just asking that because frankly, they probably remember how they felt after their first code. People are also scared out of the OR easily, so they want to make sure that didn't push you over the edge. I work in level 1 trauma and have seen alot of codes where they end up not getting a pulse back and it is VERY hard when they are young.

Good for you for hanging in there-one of the things I love about the OR is that you are NEVER alone in that sort of situation and we immediately kick into 'high team gear' and it moves FAST and furious. There is a rush of adrenalin that can't be found anywhere else. Keep it up!! You're awesome!!

rbs105