How did you react to your first code?

Nurses General Nursing

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From the time I was in nursing school up until now (as a new graduate RN), I had never seen a code. Today for the very first time, I did not just see one code, I saw two and they happened to be right next door to each other! I know that I should have felt awful for the patients, but I was just so excited to finally see a code that I kept going back and forth to look to see what was going on for each one.

Do you think it's wrong to get excited when a patient is doing poorly? Of course I care about people or I wouldn't have become a nurse, but it felt a little strange afterwards.

I was just wondering how other nurses (you) reacted the first time you saw a patient code (go into cardiac arrest or respiratory distress).

Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.

Ruby of the greased 400 pounder:

That was a real lesson on the need to use "Hoyer lifts". One for the morbidly obese should always be available at the bedside, sling under her in the tub, etc. whenever such an enormous patient is out of bed.

Jeez.......

My patient coded yesterday. I did compressions for 15 minutes. He expired. My whole body hurts today. I need to get into better shape.

Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

My first code was when I was a few months out of school. I was working in a different area and was just punching out and they called a code so I punched back in and went down to "help". I did not do much of anything but I did observe all the commotion and how things were ran. They coded him for quite awhile but he did not make it. I think that's when I knew I wanted to be in the ER.

I still have not participated in a code activly yet. I guess we did have a pedi code but I had to observe that too r/t being my first one but I did help get supplies and gave meds. After watching a few and taking ACLS I know feel like I'm ready to jump in and participate.

I do get that adrenaline rush though when a trauma or a code is called voice and body get shakey before and after dread sets in but as soon as they hit the door that's gone and something else takes over. Gotta love critical care nursing.

My first -only - code was when I had just been an EMT a couple months. An 83 y.o. woman had been out to dinner with her daughter and s-i-l and collapsed on the way into the house. She was unresponsive when we got there and stopped breathing while we were checking C-spine, no pulse. I just kept thinking "remember what you learned" - measured the oral airway and got it in, fumbled attaching the O2 to the BVM, started bagging, crew chief doing the compressions, AED kept saying "no shock advised."

When the paramedics got there I had to drive their vehicle and missed the drama when they got her back with atropine and external pacing (she'd been very bradycardic). So - jubilation for a "save." But a save for how long? Did she ever wake up to the pain of snapped ribs, or had her brain been injured? She'd survived a lot already, poor lady, we saw the double mastectomy, and it would have been a good way to go - coming back home with her daughter after dinner out - and then, whatever comes next.

I observed a code in the ER - 80 plus man, septic?, low BP and temp, got a warming blanket, fluids and Foley, lungs filled up, Lasix, coded, saved, rushed to ICU - and you could tell his wife and daughter were deciding one round of that was enough. He'd been dying very gently too, with a sweet confused smile and no pain, until he got treatment.

Specializes in ER, ICU,.

My first code, my friends mom. It was awful! I could hear my friend in the hall crying the whole time. She died.

I was a student then.

My first code as employee. I was in cafeteria at 0200. Code called and my coworker insisted we took the stairs. FOUR flights!! Got to the room, went to the head of the bed ( I am on RT). The pt had macaroni for dinner!!!!! it was vomited all over the bed! I am still huffing and puffing at this point from the stairs and now I smell vomit, while doing compressions!!!! ANd, the heater is on!! It must be 90 degrees in the room and did I mention I ran up 4 flights of stairs!!!

My coworker is in bathroom puking!!

another at head of bed gagging. I am still doing compressions!!! Thinking I am about to code,,,,b/c did I mention the stairs??? 1 dr in room talking to other on phone. The one on the phone insisted we code til he got there!!! Why??? AN hour later, the code is done. I am exhausted! My co worker in the bathroom is still gagging. (she don't do RT any more) Not sure is she was puking from stairs or macaroni vomit!!

Anyway... I don't do stairs for codes anymore. I run....to the elevator!! :no:

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

My very first code--I was a senior level student doing clinical in ICU. I didn't have time to react as a patient went into an unstable heart rhythm and coded. The nurse manager literally grabbed my arm, brought me into the room and said something to the effect: find your landmarks and start chest compressions.

Specializes in Pediatric Psychiatry, Home Health VNA.

My first code was as an ER tech. I took the call over C-Med and informed my charge and the attending. The administrative coordinator grabbed me by the shoulder and asked me if I was ready for my first code as she gowned me up. I remember my hands shaking with excitement and fear, and she told me my responsibility was to do chest compressions but not to worry, the patient had been in asystole for awhile so consider this practice. I didn't quite know what that meant at the time but it turns out she was right. Coded a very blue and cold patient (94 degrees!) for 20 minutes before they called it. I was surrounded by an awesome team who gently corrected my novice compression style and showed me the ropes of the nurse's role between turns on the patient's chest.

I got to participate in MANY more codes after that and it's like something natural just kicks into gear. You don't think, you just know and your body guides your actions. It's funny, one of the techs told me I wouldn't make any friends in the ER by expressing interest in seeing a code. The nurses actually loved me for it and were delighted to teach. I truly attribute my ability to stay calm and organized to them. As a CNA I was able to teach new grads what to do during a code when the nurse began chest compressions on a patient who was still in a sitting position in bed! I laughed silently because I could totally picture myself doing that if it was my first code and couldn't think clearly.

Specializes in ER, ICU,.

"i ran to the tub room, slipped on some of the water on the floor and went skidding into the wall . . . patient is feebly flopping around. we got eight people in to try to lift her out of the tub, but no one could get a good grip on her. turns out that the patient had told the students that she was "stuck in here" and between the 3 of them they'd decided that a little keri oil would lubricate things up enough she'd just "pop out' of the tub. so they poured in the whole 18 ounce bottle! she was so slippery, no one could get a grip on her and we couldn't pull her out."

omg!!! i can see it now!!!!!:eek:

Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Uh uh...after reading that story, I'm trying hard not to picture it

Specializes in ED.

My first code as a student was in PICU. I don't remember a whole lot about it except the nurse shoved paper in my hands and told me to record. I do remember the baby was still alive when I left.

My first code in the ED was on my very first day of orientation. My preceptor told me to go in and watch. I got stuck in a corner and couldn't move. Someone told me to get drugs and I didn't even know how to put the code drugs together. I felt like a total moron.

My most memorable code was the one where we did chest compressions for 4 hours. The pt had a K level around 7.5 and was brady in the low 30's. The cardiologist came in and decided the pt needed dialysis. So, we continued chest compressions throughout dialysis. We were calling people down from the floors who needed experience to come help out. The pt made it to the CCU. That one was pretty extreme but we couldn't get the internal pacer or an external pacer to pace, if I recall correctly, so we had to continue compressions. I could barely move the next day.

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