question for experienced rn's

[ballnurse]

I am going to graduate with my RN in December and am curious to know of your first code experiences. I am an LPN to RN student and in my five years of being an LPN I never have had the experience of a code, nor as a student. I would like to know what you do, how you deal and anything else you want to add. Thanks everyone...

[blackstarryskye]

Sometimes the things we fear the most are because of lack of knowledge. Ever consider ACLS/megacode training?

:)BSS

[Zookeeper3]

I'd consider becoming proficient at BLS, basic life support. Before the code team comes there are many things that should be done first that WILL be your responsibility, airway, breathing, circulation, get the cart, hook them up to a monitor (even if you can't read it, know how to hook it up), get the chart and a print out of labs....

that's a lot to do in a little time so stay with your patient, and learn to delegate. Once you get all that down, and you will, an ACLS class will further help take the "mystery" out of running a code.

There will be more people in that room than you need to help you;)

[flashgoddess]

Learn, watch other more experienced staff and try to stay as calm as possible because you will feel the adrenalin in your body. Participate in mock codes.

Good luck!

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

want to know what my journey to hell was like with my first code? well, i was floated to icu soon after my orientation to telemetry and given 1 night of orientation to icu prior to floating to icu... lol! ! !

anyway, i was given a very difficult case and fool enough to say yes>>> vented with fentanyl, levophed, dopamine drips running to control bp. well, the shifty leader told me that she would be coming around to adjust the drips now and then, so really i had nothing to worry about. 2 hours in my pt codes @@@!!! all i can remember is helping to remove the gown, place leads and hold the curtain for everyone else to do the dead man an unjust favor. i called the family, primary doc and the shifty leader did all the paperwork for the end of life. i felt so stupid and demorilized.

ps. the more you are a part of codes, ie documenting..chest compressing, the less of a threat they are...and remember you're part of a team...so relax, breath deep and sing a slow song as a veteran nurse told me. whatever you do don't panic!

ps ps oh, and this first code happened around 6 months prior to my taking the acls megacode classes. so ill prepared was i from the get go ;-(