jwelborn

My first code....I was actually still a student. My instructor and I went into a room to check on a girl who had been admitted for observation following an MVA. She was 8 months pregnant. We found her in shock and not breathing. I still can hear my instructor's voice telling me that we were starting CPR - and saying "You breathe for her - you can do it." That experience changed my whole career. I was going to go into maternity nursing. Instead, I wanted to overcome my fear of dealing with resuscitation and ACLS. I ended up with many years in ICU and CCU - and never did find my way to Labor and Delivery. I discovered that there are many reasons to relax about codes. One primary reason is that the ACLS algorithms make it pretty simple once you learn them. They are like following a recipe. I find that comforting. Another reason is that when someone arrests, they are clinically dead. You can't really make that worse (not trying to flippant). You might make it better. Relax and take control of the recipes you have been given (AHA algorithms) - and add a little prayer, treat the patient and their family with appropriate respect - and do what you can. Sometimes you really can make it better.