first code today

an2on, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2011

Interesting. Did you participate in any way ?

Sugars · Sep 23, 2011

Even though codes aren't fun, they are a great learning experience and you take a lot from them when they happen. The first time is when you are amazed at how fast someone can go downhill, but the more you see and contribute to, the more comfortable you will be running them.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Sep 23, 2011

I just sort of watched - one of the other students was closer to the bedside and got to bag her till they took her down to ICU...I just stayed out of the way!

LeighaChristineSN · Sep 24, 2011

I'm jealous (which sounds bad I know)!! The closest I've gotten to a code was one across the hall while I was assesing my patient. I remember hearing "start chest compressions now!" and that's all it took to get my adrenalin pumping!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 24, 2011

wasn't my patient, but my patient's roommate...they called rapid response team and within 2 minutes there was a crash cart, and EKG cart and 14 people (aside from us 3 students and our co-assigned nurse) in the room...they intubated in the room and promptly took the pt back to ICU (she was just extubated and brought to our unit last night)...
it happened so fast - her sats went from 88 to 74 within 3 minutes
it was quite the learning experience...

It can be quite the learning experience seeing someone desat that quickly. Sounds like it ended up being a very close call. Code and peri-code situations can be highly instructive. If you think back, you may be able to pick up on clues that the patient was becoming unstable. Of course, since patients can sometimes do a very good job of hiding things... perhaps nobody would have been able to pick up any signs.