I couldn't believe this

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

The other day one of our patients crashed. She was a difficult intubation and we ran out of some of the supplies on our crash cart. I ran across the hall and told the other unit that I needed something on their crash cart.

The nurse there promptly told me that she had just inspected it, and this was really an inconvenience. Did I really need it now? What's wrong with our crash cart? Will she get it back intact?

I was like, hey, we're having an emergency here.

"I didn't hear a code called!" Uhm...my floor never calls codes.

Finally, in a huff, she was like, "Well I guess if it's an emergency, but please make sure we get it back."

I mean, I know they need a full crash cart too and everything, but she didn't need to lecture me on that. I NEEDED it then for our unresponsive, not breathing patient who was currently being bagged.

Uuuugggghhhh!

[Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I would have just taken what I needed and told her, "I'll have a conversation with you after I'm done".

It sounds as though she's never had a patient code. Inconvenience.... how sadly funny!

Are you known for stealing other unit's crash carts? :chuckle

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

My GAWWWD!!! Is she a new nurse? Has she never encountered a code? The longer you had to stand there and argue with her, the more danger it was putting the patient in. I agree with the above poster, I would have just got what I needed and told her I wanted to talk to her later about this. Then afterward, I would educate her on emergency situations. If she still didnt see your point, I would then report her so that someone else could possibly educate her so this isnt an issue when/if another code occurs. Also, whatever you were needing from that other crashcart, I would make sure your crashcart is maybe better stocked. What was it that you needed? Just curious.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

We use CO2 detectors to initially check placement of the ET tube. Our crash cart only had 1. Our intubation trays are sealed separately and we don't open it while checking the crash cart, so I had no idea there was only 1 in there. We used it, it turned color, then she started desatting again- we had lost placement. And it kinda went on like this for awhile. We went through 3 of those stupid things. We were suppose to have extra on the floor, but couldn't find them anywhere. Further, they wanted a size ET tube we didn't have on our cart.

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

maybe talk with your manager about incident and possibly stocking those things so you will have them next time. If your floor is like mine, we dont stock well. Im always having to go to another floor to get supplies which takes up alot of my time. But during a code, that shouldnt have to happen. You dont have the time to waste going to other floors. They need to stock better for emergency situations. I had the same thing happen on our floor during a code, but it was a drug that we didnt have. That really concerned me.

[the six of us]

I would have just taken what I needed and told her, "I'll have a conversation with you after I'm done".

It sounds as though she's never had a patient code. Inconvenience.... how sadly funny!

Are you known for stealing other unit's crash carts? :chuckle

Ditto to just taking it and discussing it later....

[blinks14]

We had a code on our floor earlier in the week and ran out of a bunch of meds and I ran over to our sister unit and told them I needed their meds from their cart and they just pulled out the trays and gave them to me no questions asked. I would have been ****** if they hadn't. Besides our pharmacy gives us all new drawers with meds after a code while they replenish the used ones.

[txredheadnurse, BSN, RN]

My one quibble is by taking the other units crash cart what would they do if they had a code while their cart was on your unit?

I am not saying the other nurse couldn't have reacted with more understanding but maybe, just maybe she had been instructed to not let the crash cart leave her unit. Just a thought.

I agree you need more supplies and more variety of items on your cart. If nothing else you need a bin or cubby designated as overflow code items if the crash cart can't accomadate more tubes, etc. Again, just a thought. I have worked in an ICU where we had a specific storage drawer that had extra tubes, common code meds, ambu bags and so forth.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

That sounds like a really good idea. And yes, I thought about what would happen if they had a code. Pharmacy is really good about restocking the crash carts asap, though, and I figured I had to do what had to be done now for the actual current code, rather than planning on what could happen. I agree, we should have been better stocked.

Actually, a LOT of what happened that night shoulda been handled better, but alas, I digress.

[oramar]

I have to say I have recieved many lectures about lending equipment to other units. I never had a manager who liked the idea. When the emergency came up I always gave it up anyway. This person may have been recently lectured by her manager and thus the reluctance.

[JustKeepSmiling, ADN, BSN, RN]

That's really annoying and inconsiderate of the patient.

Don't go into healthcare if you're so worried about BS like that to neglect your duties to the sick & in pain.

This kind of crap really gets on my nerves...

Good luck. =\

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Had many a lecture about giving things to other units, including snacks, only to have the NM back down when "a situation" came into play. My thinking is, it really belongs to the facility, sure a unit is assigned that piece of equiptment and it does come out of their budget, but in the end, it is like saying the left hand owes the right hand. It all belongs to the facility and each and every patient who needs the equiptment should be given the use of it without an argument.