Learning about CODES in NS

[RNDreamer]

Hey guys,

Do nursing students learn about codes (when to call one, what to do, etc) in nursing school or is this something I should expect to learn on the job. In addition, if you do learn it in NS, are you expected to participate in a code if your patient codes while you are in clinical?

Thanks in advance.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

This sounds like a question you should be asking your nursing instructors. My first reaction to reading your question was that if you have BLS certification in CPR, then you should be able to tell when emergency services need to be activated ("call 911"). In the hospital, this would be to call a Code Blue and begin CPR. However, when it comes to a student being expected to participate in a code if their patient code, I think that is something you need to clarify with your clinical instructor(s). When you are in your clinical area, I don't think it would hurt for you to pull up the facility policy and procedure on Code Blues and read it over to get an idea of what the facility expects.

When I was a student we were not expected to participate in Code Blues. We were only allowed to stand back and observe. As an employee we were given a whole mini-class on Code Blues during our orientation as new employees and what our responsibility during them.

[RNDreamer]

I haven't started clinicals yet. Thanks for responsing. I was curious.

[MySimplePlan]

Our MedSurg instructor told us to grab the nearest chair and stand on it and watch!! (Out of the way, of course.)