Had my First Pedi Code today...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

i've been a nurse 2 years, never had a pedi code, let alone an adult code.

i dont know how i did it.

this was a trached baby with a plug - i didnt think i knew what to do, but i did. baby desatted to the 30s, hr in the 20's. cpr started..didnt even last 10 min, but felt like an eternity.

got told i did a really good job and was on top of everything..

but i dont know how i did it..

i know they say codes bring on an adrenaline rush- but i was just shaking for 5 minutes!! i guess its like an out of body experience- inside during bagging her i was panicking and shaking and could feel my heart pounding, but still did what i had to do.. afterwards it all came to the surface..

wow..

did i mention this was my last day on orientation? :)

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

Congrats. Sounds like you're ready for primetime!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

Ohhh I dont know about that one...

What a way to end orientation...

.

I kinda feel like I can do anything now... :)

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Meghan,

I hope that this will be your one and only.

Coding kiddos is the TOUGH STUFF - and even experience will never change that!

I think you did an amazing job - remembered everything, played the way you have practiced and kept your cool (saved the babe) although terrified!

I think that your reaction was so normal - don't be the least bit dismayed. I've been at this a long time and I think I'll ALWAYS be a bit shaken by pedi resuscitation.

For now, the fact that the kiddo will be okay is a great reward. A blessing indeed, that you will always be a part of this baby's tomorrows.

GREAT JOB!

:)

Oh - that must have been a wicked orientation! ;)

.

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good for you! the ones who can work on auto pilot like that and save the shaking for later are the ones who make good critical care nurses.

you will never forget your first pedi code. when you lose your first child you will never forget that one either.

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Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.

I remember the one time I felt like super nurse was when we had a child code. When the experienced folks got there and the responsibility was off my shoulder, I literally fell completely apart and don't know how I finished the shift. Ever chance I could I sat down in the corner shaking and my knees were in total rebellion.

If they said you did great you DID GREAT probably.

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

Meghan

GREAT JOB!!

I know exaclty how you feel, you dont even know you know you **** until you have to use and and not think about it. i have done a couple things in my time that i just cant believe still.

I think the two of us need to work on our confidence!!!

FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT YOU DID!!

-H-

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.
good for you! the ones who can work on auto pilot like that and save the shaking for later are the ones who make good critical care nurses.

tazzi-

funny you have said that.. my instructors during nursing school always told me i'd make a good critical care nurse - i told them they were crazy. now i work a picu step down unit... i'm close to critical care - but not going there!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

So I spent all night analyzing what happened, and what went wrong.

I know there was nothing I could have done that would have prevented it. Pt was already suctioned, resp. saw pt, etc. This happened not even 2 hours into the shift.

Its funny though, I guess when it happens you are in one mode - focusing on the patient. I didnt even realize about 15 other people showed up until someone told me. All i saw was the MD, myself, and my preceptor and the RT. Thats it. I do remember hearing the mom fall apart though ...

It also took me all night to realize where the ambu bag came from!! I was so focused on changing the trach and helping the baby that I didnt realize until last night that someone actually handed it to me. I know it didnt magically appear, but I was really annoyed that I didnt know where it came from!

Ya know, it figures too - I kept saying I was petrified of having to do a code..and now I've done it. Now being on my own wont be so scary.. I hope...

Thank you all for the support and kind words, I really needed it!

-Meghan

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Specializes in ICU. Med/Surg: Ortho, Neuro, & Cardiac.

First, congrats Meghan! It must have been rough. At the hospital I work at the aides are just like...certified compression aides, it seems like, because anytime there is a code the aides are always expected to step right in and start compressions. But the CNAs can't touch peds where I work because we're not trained or something so I've never had that experience.

Meghan,

I hope that this will be your one and only.

Coding kiddos is the TOUGH STUFF - and even experience will never change that!

I think you did an amazing job - remembered everything, played the way you have practiced and kept your cool (saved the babe) although terrified!

I think that your reaction was so normal - don't be the least bit dismayed. I've been at this a long time and I think I'll ALWAYS be a bit shaken by pedi resuscitation.

For now, the fact that the kiddo will be okay is a great reward. A blessing indeed, that you will always be a part of this baby's tomorrows.

GREAT JOB!

:)

Oh - that must have been a wicked orientation! ;)

.

One time I was called by the house supervisor to "help get a patient who had fell downstairs off the floor." Ends up a pt was in cardiac arrest...first time I performed CPR. Poor guy was 96 years old. :-(

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Specializes in Skilled Nursing.

Meghan,

Im proud of you!! Thanks for sharing!! I can imagine the after effect...your mind must have been going a mile a minute!! Way to stay cool and doing a great job!!

Youre a great Nurse!!! :)

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Awesome!!!! Good job!

MAN there are so many awesome nurses on this board that I wish I could be like. Reading some of these posts is so humbling. But, at least I know now what I want to aspire to be!

I know that I'd love to do peds, but get so scared that I could just never handle it.

(Well, I already do SOME peds, but I'd love to work on an all peds floor/hospital)

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