First Code (Sorry it's long)

: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.

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.

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.

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....

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:

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