Reflections needed on adrenalin junkie nurses

Prettyladie · Oct 30, 2011

I completely understand where you are coming from, but you have to look at it from the "adrenaline nurse junkie" side, or however you explained it. I am one of those people, although I am NOT a RN yet, but I have participated in multiple codes, as being a tech in the ER, but I'm not about to push you out of the way, it's not THAT crucial for me, but I do enjoy the excitement and I'm ready to compress, defib, etc every single time. It is unfortunate to the individual, but the type of nursing I want to be involved in surrounds the critical patients, and being a part of bring them back to stable, and yes somewhat "saving their life". I do think being a part of that is "awesome" as the other male RN put it. NOw, some things you mentioned are slightly inappropriate, as of pushing you almost to the ground, that's uncalled for, but the whole adrenaline thing, I'm okay with that. I dont' think the point of the "adrenaline" characteristic is to make someone "look good", it's something we, or should I say enjoy. I don't enjoy death, and that's not what I'm saying, but I do like the excitement and the rush I get from saving a life or at least being a part of saving a life in such circumstances.

netglow, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

Sounds like your coworker is very immature.

Immature people either grow up quickly to wear big boy/girl pants, or they remain dangerous.

Prettyladie · Oct 30, 2011

It's different if you are doing compressions and you're about to be tired and can't take it, and need to rotate, than to just PUSH you out of the way. Do you work in an ED, or what type of unit?

nightengalegoddess · Oct 30, 2011

Med surg tele. I didn't need a rest. But that is ok. I did need room to tell the doc all the fundamentals. Yes, the RN is new, and he has been known to have 'newnurseitis'. Maybe it all comes down to me having as much compassion for my co-workers as I do for my patients?

MomRN0913 · Oct 30, 2011

I dont think it's right for him to push you out of the way. not at all.

But, yeah, it's ok to be proud of a good save. Whenever I have participated in one and being in the ICU I have MANY and I good save comes out of it, i am proud to have a part, I will say "that was great" Not as in it was great the patient coded, but great we got him back.

A code is also a team effort and not only one individual saves the patient, a team does. it's OK to be proud of your effort in that team.

mama_d, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

Maybe it was "great" as in great save or great code? Because as we all know, there are some codes where everything goes great and some where it's like the Keystone Kops, regardless of the outcome. I've heard the "great code" comment before when it was unexpected and the pt didn't make it...it is kind of warped when you think about it, since it is literally a life on the line...but when it's smooth teamwork all the way and everything was done right, it is a good thing even if they don't make it.

That said, I totally understand where you're coming from. A code especially is a team effort, no single person, even the doc, is responsible for "saving" anyone. Chalk it up to that "newnursitis" and move on...the majority of nurses realize it's a team effort.

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2011

As a new nurse myself, I've found Codes fascinating when I was in my preceptorship in the ER. However, at the same time I found it amusing that seasoned RNs from ICU and even Tele came running to "assist" when the Code was announced.

I plan on being a RN for a while and unless it's something completely off the wall and a rare occurrence, I wasn't about to elbow my into the Code. I was always asked if I wanted to be involved and I always said yes. And, aside from doing the charting, I've had a chance to do chest compressions, start IVs, push meds and run for supplies.

richardOR · Oct 30, 2011

I am so sorry for you having to go through this. I have worked with first responders/military/public safety for a long time and there are many people who exhibit these types of characteristics. I had a colleague that used to call them adrenaline junkies, glory hounds or maybe stress addicts (which I think I may be.)

Not really sure if there is a great way to handle someone who is amped up on the fight or flight rush, sometimes they can even be good, though probably not in a hospital environment. Best advice I can give is to be the utility player, plug the gaps that others create when they are not thinking clearly, and be the voice of reason if they are making mistakes. DON'T be pushed around if you are right, but don't look for conflict just because they are being aggressive either.

Docs and more experiences personnel will notice how calm and cool you are under pressure with others flopping all over the place.

MomRN0913 · Oct 30, 2011

As a new nurse myself, I've found Codes fascinating when I was in my preceptorship in the ER. However, at the same time I found it amusing that seasoned RNs from ICU and even Tele came running to "assist" when the Code was announced.
I plan on being a RN for a while and unless it's something completely off the wall and a rare occurrence, I wasn't about to elbow my into the Code. I was always asked if I wanted to be involved and I always said yes. And, aside from doing the charting, I've had a chance to do chest compressions, start IVs, push meds and run for supplies.

Just wondering, why is that you were amused when the seasoned RN's from the ICU came running to assist in codes? Doesn't your hospital have a code team? We don't run in to "amuse" ourselves, we HAVE to go. Nor is it for the floor nurses amusement. Then if there is no ICU bed and the patient makes it, we HAVE to stay with the patient while our work is on hold in the ICU.

And no offense , it may be different in other hospitals, but where I worked the floor nurses were the first to run out of the room without us pushing past actually.You would start asking questions to the nurse who had the patient and she'd or he'd be gone, 9 out of 10 times.

MomRN0913 · Oct 30, 2011

and if you meant it in the context of "assisting" as in we do all the work, again, in my facility, that's what the docs want. The seasoned ICU nurses they work with to be on the front lines of a code.

Vaxene · Oct 30, 2011

i'm from facilities where the ICU teams are the code teams as well. i can honestly say nearly 99% of all codes i responded to, as soon as the nurses saw us (ICU nurses) walk in the room, they bailed. i can't tell you how many times i had to run a code because the physician wasn't there yet and the floor nurses acted like they had never seen a hospital before....

that being said, i like being in code situations. i feel as though that's what i was trained for and why i went to school. i love traumas and crashing patients (not for the patient, but i HOPE you know what i mean). i've never shoved someone out of the way though. i've simply asked 'what can i do to help?' you said this nurse was new....did you tell him anything? did you pull him off to the side to explain what you saw looking in? if nothing is said to him, it'll continue. i don't see why you're bringing it to an open board instead of addressing it with him...just my two cents