I recently participated in a code-blue situation in which a doctor was having a difficult time intubating. At least 2 people (including the doc) remarked that the patient had a huge tongue. A comment was made by a male-nurse that : "I hear he was popular with the ladies..." A few people (including myself) laughed out loud to this comment.
There were probably 8 people in the room, 5 of whom were women.
If you were at bedside during this code, how would you have reacted? If at all?
Not appropriate but in some situations you need to make a little joke. It lightens the mood. I don't see a problem with it as long as it didn't interfere with the job you were doing and it wasn't completely disrespectful, i.e., making a comment based on someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Humor is a HUGE stress reliever in times of code situations. It lightens the air ever so lightly and makes us realize what each of us needs to focus on.My absolute favorite saying by A CCU intensivist was " You can't kill him guys... he's already dead. Now let's try some things"
Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.
Definitely inappropriate, but so is most nursing humour. This US mentality of "writing people up" for things is alien to me. If it bothered me, I'd just say so.
No it wasn't appropriate, but I would have laughed anyway. I am so glad that I still have a sense of humor. If you have a problem with something some one said, tell them. All this writing people up BS is getting old. I would take things much better if I offeneded someone and they told me, not wrote me up. Most people feel this way. If this nurse or whoever offended you tell them.
I was in a situation where a RT was angry that I called a code because the person was breathing and had a pulse. The patient was breathing but she was many different shades of blue, and purple, and gray. I had no problem telling him to his face during the code how I felt. I did write him up because he was WAY out of line. I had to write up the doctor too because she was also inappropriatly asking the pt if she wanted us to put her on a vent. CAN'T ask a pt who is a full code and blue if they want to be intubated. I spoke up with them also. I felt the pt might have had a better outcome if we intubated sooner.
There have been things said to me that have offended me but I always talk to the person first. Things work out better this way. This is just my opinion.
There's inappropriate and then there's inappropriate. Good thing to distinguish between the two.
As in most things, it's best to find a balance. Something between barroom talk after half hoisting half a dozen on the one extreme and prim and proper whispers with judgmental sniffs on the other.
This remark was a little inappropriate. So a little reaction ("Ewww." "Too much information." "You're just jealous." "Give me a break.") would be in order. Becoming highly indignant, or, heaven forbid, writing it up, would be out of proportion to the degree of the offense. Enough over-reactions and you create an atmosphere of hypervigilance on everyone's part with that boatload of attention being directed toward the wrong things.
That said, if one member of the group consistently steps over the line and doesn't seem to heed the friendly warnings that it's time to back off, the pattern would warrant further attention and action. Even then, it's good to look for a balanced approach and arrive at consequences in keeping with the problem.
If the offender persists, escalates, retaliates, or does something otherwise unacceptable, then you pull out the big guns, which you have appropriately saved for big problems. And because you saved them, they can now have their full effect.
Whenever I'm working an arrest I try not to do humor. Mainly because I'm afraid I might accidentally say something inappropriate when family is in earshot.
That's not to say I wouldn't laugh if something dumb happened.
I would have laughed too. Sorry but we are human. Lighten up sometimes and it does make the code go a little easier. When you have been a nurse for along time you need humor to make it through the day... let alone a code.
I, too have been inappropriately tickled during a code. Gallows humor, I was told. I thought for sure I was going to be struck dead by lightening. I am still here. That was 26 years ago. I have been a critical care nurse for 31 years, and situations like that still occur. Prayer helps...a lot.
I have never been in a code where there wasn't a at least one (from an outsider's point of view) "inappropriate" comment made. If fact, last night during an arrest in the trauma room I think there was more laughing and joking than in the break room. The adrenaline is high, and there is something about that situation that calls for that dark sense of humor. Its not a job everyone can do.
On a related topic, if you ever want to have a good belly laugh, go to a terrifying movie, then right into a comedy. You'll be amazed at how much funnier the comedy is when you have tension to burn off.
I know a doc who starts to sing when a code isn't going well. Frightening.
bethin
1,927 Posts
Not appropriate but in some situations you need to make a little joke. It lightens the mood. I don't see a problem with it as long as it didn't interfere with the job you were doing and it wasn't completely disrespectful, i.e., making a comment based on someone's race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.