Hmm...."You don't have to run"...no?

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Today I went to a Code Blue on a medical / oncology floor. Turns out that the doc did a pleural tap and according to him he pulled off 3.5 liters of fluid and then the patient coded (v-fib arrest). Anyway, I was there and a few other nurse mangers and the rest of the team. One of the cardiothoracic PAs decided to put in a chest tube, so I went out to the stock room to find NOTHING. All they had was an atrium, not a chest tube insertion kit OR a an actual chest tube (which according to the NM, they are supposed to have stocked). So, I said I'd be right back and ran down the hallway, down a flight of stairs to the floor below to get a setup. Well, I asked one of the critical care NPS where they kept their chest tube setups on the floor (she works their all the time) and she said she would check...so in the mean time, I went to the stock room and looked. Finally someone got one for me, and I ran back down the hallway and up the stairs...but as I was running down the hallway (mind you, I as running politely, I didn't run into anyone, said excuse me, ect)...the NP said "Well you don't have to run and quit panicking". I know for a fact, I wasn't panicking...had I been panicking, I wouldn't have thought to run down to get another chest tube, and secondly...I don't think that running to a code and/or running to get emergent supplies is a problem...am I completely wrong? I wanted to say to the NP..."Fine, when it is your family member, I'll walk". I just think people deserve more. Am I completely off base here?

JS

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I would walk briskly. :)

When you run, esp down stairs, you run the risk of turning an ankle or Lord knows what else. In my EMS experience, I've actually seen injuries that prevented a medic from responding to a call, all because the person ran and fell.

Not to mention that I always find it much more difficult to concentrate on patient care when I'm out of breath!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I'd walk fast, but my steps are also 3 tiles foot square wide.

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Yea....I'm 4'11"...my steps aren't that big! Plus....I acted as the gopher, not giving patient care....but when the PA is standing there with sterile gloves waiting to put his chest tube in and I have to go to another floor...I think it's justified.

JS

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I've run to codes. If that isn't a time to run, I don't know what is.

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Specializes in NICU.
Yea....I'm 4'11"...my steps aren't that big! Plus....I acted as the gopher, not giving patient care....but when the PA is standing there with sterile gloves waiting to put his chest tube in and I have to go to another floor...I think it's justified.

JS

I'm very short, too, and I have to walk fast just to keep up with "normal" people. So when an emergency arises, you'd better believe I have to run!

And yes, when a patient is coding and the doc is waiting for supplies necessary for the patient's survival - heck yes it's appropriate to run. Just be careful around the stairs and have good, non-skid shoes on. No open-back clogs!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Heck yeah - I would run. It is appropriate as that was a long time to wait for the supplies in a critical situation.

As long as you weren't running, screaming, and ripping your hair out at the same time - LOL!

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Specializes in CCU.

Besides, in a code all the adrenaline in your body practically MAKES you run. So shame on her/him for trying to make you look bad. :angryfire

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Specializes in Rehab, ER, Med-Surg.

I think you are 100% justified in running in the code. Tell the NP to do her own job and not to worry about what your doing. I have run across people like that and I just don't understand why they're the way they are....

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You know you did the right thing. The quicker the code team responds, the higher the patient's chance of survival. Don't worry about it. When we have a code at my hospital, it's like a stampede of elephants running down the hall because we have the 3 ICU nurses running, respiratory, and the ER doc. We all have to take a second when we get in the room and get a deep breath, because we feel like we're gonna code from hypoxia.:lol2:

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

I usually jog to codes. I am not in an all out sprint, or even a run for that matter- but if I walked it would take me forever to get there.

That said- awhile ago we had an experienced RN and a new grad going to a code and the exp. RN was rounding a corner and his shoe caught on something and he broke his foot- he did make it to the code but wasn't much help. The patient was ok and got transferred to ICU....the exp. RN had to go to the ER and we had to cover for his patients, thankfully there was only about 2 hours before change of shift...he actually ended up needing surgery to fix whatever bone he broke! We got to make fun the of the new grad for trying to trip her preceptor and take him out for weeks!

Anyway- the moral of the story is- be careful and wear good shoes!

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The things people choose to fixate on . . .

You did the right thing - I've run to emergencies too.

steph

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