new nurse-i feel useless when a code is called.

Have you taken ACLS? If not, then sign up!

It will be hard to feel usefull until you have had acls and have witnessed/particpated in codes. It takes time. :)

Get in there and do chest compressions! It's not mindless work or anything, but you can at least peripherally observe what else is going on and get more comfortable in a code situation. If you're doing compressions, no one can ask you to do meds, defibrillate, etc.

Or, if there is no resp. therapist, you could bag the patient.

Just until you become a little more comfortable in an emergency.

Best advice I ever recieved, was too say to yourself, This person is dead already, whatever I do. I found it calmed me down and let me focus on what needed to be done. We are so afraid to cause halm it sometimes freaks us out.

the first pulse to take at a code is your own! take a deep breath and calm down. there's lots of people at a code, so what you do or don't do isn't going to make or break it.

the idea of doing chest compressions is a good one! or push meds, if you can get close enough to the patient. you'll be standing next to the patient and will be able to see what goes on up close and personal. do either one of those things a few times, and you'll gain confidence! another good role is recording -- it forces you to keep close track of what is going on.

don't forget that someone needs to be watching the other patients as well. more than once, i've seen something happen to one of the other patients, and no one else was watching. you wouldn't run to the code without making sure someone else was watching your patient, would you?

ruby

i also agree that taking acls would be a big eye opener. also study the code sheet when u have time-it has a wealth of info on it that u can see what might be done. easier to look at and study before an actual code occurs. i have an extra acls book for a year or two ago if u want it to look at until u get your own in class if u want it. please pm me if u do! i truly remember those scary days of not knowing what to do-don't know why they do not go thru this more in school or orientation...simple things like, get the backboard under the pt, lay them flat, etc. depending on when and where u work u may have little back up in the code team arrives. good luck!

Hello! I agree with taking ACLS, it will give you an idea of what is going on and what the "plan" might be. I don't know what kind of unit you work on, but knowing the cardiac rhythms might also help you have a feel for what is going on- the hospitals usually offer tele classes though the education department. I also think that recording is a good way to get a feel for a code- especially if you don't get to see them that often. As your recorder, it is your job to write everything down (rhythm, pulse checks, bps, meds, procedures, etc) It helps you get a flow for what is going on without the pressure of having to do it the first couple of times. As others have mentioned, it is good to pick a role and try to stick with that too (ie: compressions, bagging, starting an IV) whatever needs to be done- it also kind of depends if you have a code team at the hospital too depending on what other things you can do (only our code team can push ACLS meds on the floors...). Anyway, the best way to get comfortable is to practice and see alot of codes!

whoops, had no idea we weren't allowed to post our email addy. will change it, thanks.

At our hospital the education department runs a Code Blue and a Code Pink class several times a year. Any nursing department employee has to attend one of these classes when they first hire on. They give you an overview of the code situation and let you get hands on experience with the crash cart etc. It is mandatory yearly after that for those who don't do PALS , ACLS etc. Its an excellent class and really gives a good idea of what happens in a code and what roles you cna play without the stress of ACLS testing or being in the actual code. See if you hospital or any of the local hospitals do something similar. :)