Night shift CNA in MICU

[ilikecorgis]

I don't have any experience other than clinicals in LTC for school. My friend said her hospital was hiring CNA's for nights in MICU. What does that normally consist of? She said I would be doing coding all the time. What does that mean?

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

It sounds like your friend doesn't work in an MICU. The staff are focused on stabilizing the patient and preventing codes. If care is futile efforts are made to obtain DNR/DNI orders. Codes are much more frequent in the ED. The MICU, not so much as the staff are able to monitor closely and intervene before it gets to that point.

[guest769224]

I work as an ICU tech.

You will occasionally participate in a code blue. My role is chest compressions and running back and forth with equipment the doc orders.

Codes are infrequent. Your friend is exaggerating.

Other duties are QC'ing glucometers, turning and repositioning patients, clean ups, going down to CT for scans, bed baths, emptying foleys, helping with admits and discharges.

Fun place to work.

[ilikecorgis]

What do codes mean exactly?

[guest769224]

It means a patient has gone into cardiac or respiratory arrest. They are pulseless, or apneic.

A code attempts to save their lives using multiple interventions.