do any of you like codes??

I used to love codes, wanted to be part of the code team, wanted to do compressions, push drugs, zap the crap out of people. LOVED THE RUSH.

Ten plus years later I still enjoy the rush, not nearly as much but the enjoyment is still there, but I enjoy calm days as well. I also really enjoy preventing the code. In ICU you can focus your attention on a few patients and catch things that might be missed elsewhere.

i have a confession...i like codes, ok, i love codes.

i don't like that i like them, because, i know it means a human being is in big trouble. but my heart gets pumping, pin point pupils, adrenaline racing, my entire being focuses intesely on the moment....just thinking about it gets me excited.

even when they are over, the after glow keeps me going for hours. sometimes when the floor gets slow, i "almost" want a code.

my moral compass tells me this is wrong. i should not "want" a human to code. but i know they will, and the hospital is the safest place on earth for it to happen, and i want to be there when it happens.

does any body else feel this way??

i should also point out....i get very anxious and nervous when pt's expire. and aftercare makes me shake for about a day or two. i don't like death.

any meaningful comment would be appreciated.

I agree, it seems wrong somehow to like them, but I think people have hit the nail on the head, it's a chance to do what you've really trained for. I was a tech in the ED of a Level I Trauma center before nursing school and I used to LOVE a good trauma resus. It seemed really morbid to me until someone explained it like this.

People code, people get hurt bad. I'm not wishing it to happen to anyone, I'm just wishing that WHEN it happens, it's on my shift. :-)

A patient I was taking care of today coded. He was post CABG and there was no time to get back to the OR, so the doc opened the chest up in the room. It was my first open chest code and I was damn scared. I was kind of pushed out of the way by the more experienced nurses, which was fine with me. I'm sure I'll get my chance to really get my hands dirty in a code situation, but I can tell you it's not something I hope for.

I do, however, hope that I am prepared enough to handle it when the situation does arise.

I prefer to spend my shift with an extremely sick one on drips and try to stay ahead of a code happening. Just my preference....not to say that I don't enjoy participating in a code though.

In place of getting your adreneline pumped over a code. Why don't you take up sky diving. This way the only person that may suffer is you. A good nurse prevents a code, by recognizing the signs and symptoms. When the unit is quiet it means everyone has done a good job keeping the patients stable.Next time you are in a code and you are pumping on someone's chest do what I do, in your head say the Lord's Prayer. I am not a religious fanatic, just respectful of the infirmed.

pa, I don't think anyone is being disrespectful of the individual who has coded. The common theme is that for those who feel challenged in a positive manner by being in a code that it is sad that someone else is in trouble. While we all strive to prevent codes they will continue to happen regardless of how good you and your team are. Why ? Simple people with irritable hearts will code, people with uncontrolled blood and fluid loss will code. people with massive electolyte shifts will code, simply becase they are so sick and these changes can occur more rapidly than even the best team can accomodate. Personally when in a code i'm beating my brains to think of probable causes and the treatment.... and wondering what the patient really wants.

At first I thought it was kind of exciting. After a couple of years, it's become sort of routine. One of our new orientees told me that she hoped that someone would code so that she could see what it was like. I explained to her that it was our job to make sure that our patients didn't code. Alas, she got her wish within her first 4 hours.

sometimes the best code of all. Is no code at all

I think I already posted on this, but i do like the adrenaline rush during codes. I somehow do my best under pressure, and can still keep it all together.

I can understand and somewhat agree, without hoping to sound sick, with the OP.

Of course, as a CNA, my role in a code is usually chest compressions...but it is an 'amazing' feeling to know that you could possibly bring a person back to life. I'll never forget my first code. The coolest (for lack of a better term) feeling was when the lab tech was drawing blood and could only fill the syringe if I was doing active compressions. So it was then I realized that I was the one pumping the blood through the pt's body...even though I knew that was the purpose of compressions, it still felt wonderful to see it.

I absolutely detest codes. It's probably due to the fact that I work in a nursing home, where codes are rarely successful when performed on elderly hearts that are already diseased and/or enlarged.

I get where you are coming from. I work in a hospital, but the last time I saw a code blue was about a month ago. I just got done changing the pt and I go back in 15 minutes later to take his 0400 v/s. Well, he was in full cardiac arrest when I entered the room. As the first responder, I pulled the code switch, bagged the pt, and started compressions. Poor guy was 86 years old. :-(

I would I have to say I think I am leaning toward liking codes. At any rate codes like me. I refer to myself as the black cloud (jokingly of course). I have not made it through a year of nursing yet and have been in my fair share of codes. It was happening so often around me the lab guy thought I was on the code team. I have also started a new ritual (esp. when pulled to another floor) I look at all the charts and write down all the DNR on all the patient's on the floor not just my patients, charge nurse or not.

I had been a part of codes before but the first two times I had to start the process:

My charge nurse left the floor without telling me to smoke, I only had an LPN from another floor with me and a CNA. Standing in the med room beside the LPN pulling out unending meds I hear RN to room whatever and I had had the pt. the night before and thank goodness I knew he was a full code because she didn't appear to remember and took off to his room. Called the code and luckily the team was there within a blink of an eye. The guy did die, and it was disturbing because he had just been eating a popsicle and was okay, but the sad part was he had no family to call.

The second most traumatizing code happened when I was pulled to work on another floor (it had not been 6 months and I was not supposed to be pulled for six months). I asked my charge nurse before I left the floor if there were other RN's up there or I was going to refuse to go. They called and assured me there were, and of course, that was no lie. There were two other RN's, however, the one in charge had been out of orientation one month longer than I had and the other one had been out three weeks. Neither of course with no code experience. I informed them of my black cloud that had seemed to be following me for about over a month and made it clear I wanted to know all their DNR's they complied thank God. On into the shift the three weeker was telling me about her pt. she thought he had had a change in mental status. I immediately made her go with me to assess him. He had a venti mask on already well it was pulled to the side and he stats were 70 before I replaced and tried to talk him into breathing better. It was apparent he was not with it and confirmed this was a change with her. I told her to go ahead call respiratory, the Dr. and to get someone to go ahead and put a bed alarm on him. Breathing better at this point. I stepped out the door to help her do these deeds. Respiratory came to his room and was standing at the door and said he was in the floor. The three weeker screamed for me, frazzled of course I went running to find the man on the floor, bleeding he had gotten up fell and hit his head I turned him over started compressions, while she was asking what to do I told her to get down there and help me. First broken ribs that is always a nice experience. (kinda makes you want to throw up) made her keep doing compressions while I jumped up and just put the venti mask on him that was all I had time for and the code team got there pretty fast and we actually got him back by the time they were there. To make this long story short, he died three days later anyways, but we did get a yellow card ( a show of appreciation at my hospital) from the doctor.

Oh yeah that nurse from my regular floor heard the code and came to help me because she knew it was me and well of course she owed it to me after she abandoned me to go smoke.

I thought you might appreciate that since you like codes.