How is code blue announced at your facility?

[deespoohbear]

At our facility our admininstrator has decided that "Code Blue" cannot be announced over the overhead system. Instead the switch board opetrator announces "Code 4464" overhead. I just don't think that a series of numbers cut it. There are so pages overhead during the couse of a day you tend to tune them out. The so called rational behind this is to keep from upsetting familes who may think it is their loved one who is in big trouble. I was just wondering if any other facilities had similar policies and how are they working for you. Another question, when a code blue is called, do they just announce the floor where the code is occuring or do they announce room numbers? I would like to know how other facilities handle code blues?

[kaycee]

We use the same code's as most of you. Blue for arrest, red for fire ect. But the one I think is a riot is calling Mr.Strong to room whatever. That means there's a pt. or visitor or whatever that needs restained. Very original isn't it.

[SharonH, RN]

Code 7C and the room number. The Code Team: 1 nurse from ICU/ CCU, 1 from ER, ER physician, nursing supervisor, RT, and 1 person from security to direct traffic.

[BrandyBSN]

we call the codes ourselves, even students. We pick up the nearest phone, dial 411 and that links us to the overhead system, then we say "Code Blue -Room whatever", The first number of the rooms is the floor, like room 312 is floor 3, room 12. For Peds cases we follow the same routine, but say "Peds Stat- room whatever."

[lkushen]

We have a tone that is audible to diffentiate the overhead page, for any type of code - disaster, fire, bomb, tornado, dr. stat, missing infant/ child. We use code blue for adult, green for peds, and pink for neonate. Also, we have a code purple for an acute MI rolling into the ER. Can't wait until they start calling a code gray or code white for CVA!

[ChemoRN]

We are on a quiet system also, so you almost never hear the overhead, except for an emergency.

For codes, our operators call "STAT" and either medical or pediatric. They sometimes call for specific teams, like "STAT, medical, anesthesia" you know someone is getting tubed. But if they need the whole gang it's just "Stat, medial" and the floor number.

We're a teaching hospital too, so the residents run our codes. Whoevers in the MICU that month. We also have a code team that does nothing but run codes and teach us how to do codes. They are AWESOME. We have run really nasty long codes and the director never breaks a sweat, and always has something positive to say. One of the few things we do well at my institution!!

[KC CHICK]

The hospital uses the overhead system w/ "Code Blue", then the dept./floor.

The OR, however, is a restricted area so we take care of codes differently. We have a speaker box system for the perioperative areas only. (Pre-op, OR rooms, and PACU) The calls on these boxes are not heard in any other areas of the hospital.

When a code occurs, the RN, or other avail person in the room, uses the 'alarm all call' on the box and we are supposed to say "Anesthesiologist to room ___ stat" three times. No one from outside the dept. comes to our codes.

[ladybug23]

We announce "code blue room 7208-1". This is heard over the entire hospital. There has been some reseach done on family presence during code blues, and they have found the family has a better emotional outcome when they are present during the code. Sounds strange I know but families deal better when they see that everything was done for their loved one.

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

The overhead sound system pages "Code 44, Room 501" at our hospital. Yes, some people may get nervous. They can go home. We have a job to do.

[Stormy]

We also have a "quiet hospital". Each patient care area has a button mounted on the wall. When you find a person who has arrested, you simply hit the button, and the code pagers are automatically activated. Members of the code team carry code pagers. The overhead page " CODE 9" follows. Often, we are well on our way before the overhead page occurs. The downside to our overhead paging, is that prior to any page, there is an agonizing series of beeps prior to the announcement. It drives us crazy!

[Slowone]

Code 199+ floor (no room #)

[prmenrs, RN]

We don't page code blues overhead. Designated people are on the team and their pagers go off simultaneously, and they are the only ones that go to the code. Helps tremendously w/traffic control. The people invloved (besides the designated CCU residents/fellow) are anesthesia, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, a CCU nurse, maybe more, but I haven't seen one in a looonnng time, so don't know who else.

Code Red starts w/ a coded bell and light alarm that tells you which floor or area is involved; most people know their own floors alarms, but not necessarily any others. After a few minutes they announce it overhead, so then you know exactly where it is. If it's on your floor, but not your own unit, you're supposed to send a nurse to the announced unit w/a fire extinguisher.

Code Orange is an internal hospital emergency such as a utility outage.

Code Grey is disruptive or violent behavior on the part of a visitor or patient ( I guess a staff member could go bezerk, too); this will get you all available Security Guard to help take care of the problem.

Code 10 is a bomb threat.

Code Triage is a mass casualty situation, earthquake, plane crash, etc.

Code Adam is an infant or child abduction.

Code "Black" is what the Security Guards informally call having to accompany a nurse and an expired pt to the morgue.

We do not have the overhead pager active in the NICU itself, just in the clerk's area; helps a little w/ the noise.

[RNforLongTime]

At my hospital, we announced codes by "Code Blue" and whatever unit the Code is occuring-1 North, 2 North,2 South,OB, ICU,ER etc--It was the same at the last hospital that I worked at.