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

[JulieRN07]

I have been out of school for a year and I still feel clueless when there is a code. Any suggestions?

[neneRN, BSN, RN]

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

[jmgrn65, RN]

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

[shoelace]

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.

[annmariern]

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.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

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

[JBudd, MSN]

Remember you aren't the one giving orders either, so the responsibility for knowing "everything" isn't yours. Listen hard to what is being ordered, then look up those drugs later so as to get familiar with them. Being in the middle bagging is a good suggestion, not to mention it really is necessary!

ACLS is really the best way to be prepared. Another important job is recording what is being done. After I totally blew my first attempt at the written test for ACLS, I still found that I sort of knew what to expect when I was recording. A good team will be yelling out what to write down: drug, dose, time,etc. You watch for what else is going on and write that down too (pt being bagged, intubated, size and location of tube). After recording a few times you really get to know what to expect. Our code sheet has everything likely to be done already written on it, all we do is put in the time (except for drugs of course).

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

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.

I agree :yeahthat: this person is already dead so anything is a bonus

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

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!

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

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 email 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! QUOTE]

Hi miss nurse you need to edit your post and remove the email address as it is not allowed to post email addresses for your own safety :)

[zambezi, BSN, RN]

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!

[missnurse01, MSN, RN]

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