what would do you in this kind of situation?

[Ms.RN]

what would you do if you go into patients room and find out that patient have expired and patient is a full code?

[cmo421]

If u walk in and they are dead,dead,dead, then let them be dead in peace. A full code is done on a warm body,not one in rigor. No family member or ME is going to tag u for making a judgement that is in the best interest for all. Document what u found, how the body was, lack of VS and move on. Codes are expensive and even in the ACLS protocol, they say dead is dead. I would not be breaking ribs on a body that lacked spirit for a time. JMO!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

If u walk in and they are dead,dead,dead, then let them be dead in peace. A full code is done on a warm body,not one in rigor. No family member or ME is going to tag u for making a judgement that is in the best interest for all. Document what u found, how the body was, lack of VS and move on. Codes are expensive and even in the ACLS protocol, they say dead is dead. I would not be breaking ribs on a body that lacked spirit for a time. JMO!

In LTC, an unrealistic family in denial will sue the pants off the facility if a full code is not initiated on their loved one, even if the decedent's body is as dead as a doorjamb. I'm an LVN in LTC, and my state does not permit us to pronounce death. If we are not to pronounce death, we must continue CPR until EMS arrives and makes the pronouncement of death. I am not legally allowed to judge or determine if the patient has expired, so I must call a full code.

Lawsuits may arise if a full code is initiated on a DNR patient. Likewise, litigation may ensue if we failed to initiate CPR on a full code patient. In this increasingly litigious society, I've gotta do what I've gotta do to cover my butt.

[sleepyndopey]

TheCommuter speaks the truth.

[fultzymom]

If u walk in and they are dead,dead,dead, then let them be dead in peace. A full code is done on a warm body,not one in rigor. No family member or ME is going to tag u for making a judgement that is in the best interest for all. Document what u found, how the body was, lack of VS and move on. Codes are expensive and even in the ACLS protocol, they say dead is dead. I would not be breaking ribs on a body that lacked spirit for a time. JMO!

Although I feel the same way, I would not want to be the nurse who does not code someone who has a family that insists that their 98 year old mother be a Full Code. Can anyone say "Law Suit?" Even though I feel like I am doing a disservice to the patient, you must go with the family wishes.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I'm in agreement with the last few posters. Start CPR on anyone who isn't a DNR. Otherwise you leave yourself and your facility open to a lawsuit.

[SaderNurse05, BSN, RN]

So if I have a DNR and I am found cold, will they leave me alone or call the code? BTW thanks for all the good information...

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Get a big DNR tattooed across your chest and you'll be fine.

[SaderNurse05, BSN, RN]

Consider it done.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

[Simplepleasures]

I dont know if this is legal in WI or not, but at the last facility I worked , we had a policy that if we did not witness the death and came upon them already cold, even if they were a full code we were NOT to do CPR.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

if you have a signed dnr in the chart and you are dead ..then you stay that way. if i have no dnr i get to break your ribs.

so if i have a dnr and i am found cold, will they leave me alone or call the code? btw thanks for all the good information...

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

this is a lawsuit waiting to happen. like the commuter said ..ltc families can be very unrealistic and they just cant wait for the opportunity to sue someone. in ltc the person is a code for a reason and the majority of the time it is because the family cannot come to grips with their loved one dying. so you betcha this nurse is coding the dead with no dnr...

if u walk in and they are dead,dead,dead, then let them be dead in peace. a full code is done on a warm body,not one in rigor. no family member or me is going to tag u for making a judgement that is in the best interest for all. document what u found, how the body was, lack of vs and move on. codes are expensive and even in the acls protocol, they say dead is dead. i would not be breaking ribs on a body that lacked spirit for a time. jmo!