Learned something new from all of you :)

BeckyESRN · Oct 30, 2017

I had a family member call a "condition H"(anyone can call this and it's written on those pesky white boards) because we refused to bring his mother a ginger ale.

At the time I don't think it was called anything specific, my father-in-law pushed the code button because the nurse was not taking his concerns seriously. My husband has been stuck by a vehicle and was in ICU. The story goes, he had returned from surgery about 1 hour prior. He was having intense pain, dizziness, tachy on the monitor, BP decreasing with each auto-check- Father-in-law insisted that something was seriously wrong(he's an ICU nurse at another facility at the time) and the nurse said that everything "looked good". Code button was pushed, a bunch of docs show up, take one look at the monitor and the patient and take him back to surgery to remove his ruptured spleen. He coded, for real, as they entered the OR. This was about 13 years ago, my husband sends his dad a "thank for saving my life" card or email each year.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

We have family initiated rapid response at my facility. We had signs in all the rooms explaining it when it first started. I think they have all since walked. I do think it's still explained in the patient handbook, though. I've never heard of a family member calling a rapid response, though, or pressing the code button on purpose.

Now, for funny stories. Our code buttons are really easy to push accidentally. They're sensitive to any pressure. They're not labeled. And they're not covered at all. So we have a lot of false alarm codes. We had a long term patient who was finally discharging. His room was thoroughly decorated. He and his wife were packing up to leave and someone accidentally hit it in the process. The code team came running, including the brand new and very eager ICU resident. He was so disappointed it was an accident and kept asking the patient, "Are you sure you're okay?" The code team finally left and the wife was standing there dumbfounded asking what happened. The nurse went to point out which button not to press, lost her balance a bit and pressed the button AGAIN accidentally. Instant repeat. 2 hours later the housekeeper was doing the discharge clean on that room and AGAIN hit the button accidentally. Mr. Eager Resident told me he thinks that room is pleading for help.

And yes. We're looking into covers.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

I'm the sarcastic type. When someone accidentally hits the code button and after finding the patient perfectly fine joking with family, I always think to myself, "You know, that IVDA patient that comes in every other week with an abscess receiving Q1hour dilaudid IVP is going to get smart when we are one minute late with their meds one day. They are going to use that big blue button to demand it RIGHT now, and remind us not to forget their apple juice". I can see it now. I'm actually surprised that one hasn't done so already.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

ours are easy to set off and we have on housekeeping person that sets the RRT off by accident a lot. we say "OH ____" that has now become the name of accidental pulls. We have had family pull it because we didn't get X to the room fast enough. We have had some legitimate pulls for a fall or change in status.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2017

At one facility I worked at they and replaced the call light system which included what we pushed for codes/rapids. The old system use a push button which was very sensitive and if you stacked the pillows in the wrong place in the linen room, it would set off a code. This was a regular occurrence. The new pads you pulled the code button, instead of pushing it. Apparently, they were very enticing to drunk family members because the second night we had the new pads a drunk man wanted to find out what happened when you pulled the blue tab on the wall. He found out:

Security, the code team, the hospitalist and a whole bunch of pissed off nurses come running into the room with the crash cart. (we were only pissed off because it was not a real code) And security escorts you to the taxi they called because you pulled it not once, not twice, but three bloody times. And you are not so gently told to NOT come back intoxicated until you are going to the ED for treatment.

AceOfHearts<3 · Oct 31, 2017

The reason behind family initiated rapid responses is very sad. One of my classes in nursing school had us watch a video on Josie's Story- a toddler who died of dehydration in Johns Hopkins. Here is a link with more info: Hospital rapid response teams can save lives | Josie King Foundation

Philly85 · Oct 31, 2017

We have family initiated rapid response at my facility. We had signs in all the rooms explaining it when it first started. I think they have all since walked. I do think it's still explained in the patient handbook, though. I've never heard of a family member calling a rapid response, though, or pressing the code button on purpose.
Now, for funny stories. Our code buttons are really easy to push accidentally. They're sensitive to any pressure. They're not labeled. And they're not covered at all. So we have a lot of false alarm codes. We had a long term patient who was finally discharging. His room was thoroughly decorated. He and his wife were packing up to leave and someone accidentally hit it in the process. The code team came running, including the brand new and very eager ICU resident. He was so disappointed it was an accident and kept asking the patient, "Are you sure you're okay?" The code team finally left and the wife was standing there dumbfounded asking what happened. The nurse went to point out which button not to press, lost her balance a bit and pressed the button AGAIN accidentally. Instant repeat. 2 hours later the housekeeper was doing the discharge clean on that room and AGAIN hit the button accidentally. Mr. Eager Resident told me he thinks that room is pleading for help.
And yes. We're looking into covers.

I"m LOL'ing, thanks for the laugh!

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Oct 31, 2017

Our hospital has touch screen RET buttons on the same pad as the rounding/turn room monitor. I have hit that dang thing so many times. It will alarm and then I scramble to cancel it.

Cat365 · Oct 31, 2017

I'm the sarcastic type. When someone accidentally hits the code button and after finding the patient perfectly fine joking with family, I always think to myself, "You know, that IVDA patient that comes in every other week with an abscess receiving Q1hour dilaudid IVP is going to get smart when we are one minute late with their meds one day. They are going to use that big blue button to demand it RIGHT now, and remind us not to forget their apple juice". I can see it now. I'm actually surprised that one hasn't done so already.

We had someone dial 911 from their cell phone for almost this exact reason. The police, hospital security, charge nurse, and house supervisor were NOT amused. It was around 3 am or I'm sure we would have had more of a response.