RN super , code super fail...

[guest114]

Hi just a quick gathering of opinion regarding something that happened at work tonight. A code was called. There was a major rift in communiction all the way down the line and altogether was a disaster. First of call, apparently no one heard this STAT even paged over head. I know I did not. Then I am being called on my unit by a frantic nurse to call 911, get an AED...who shows up to a code without an AED. I am an agency nurse so I change facilities often so , although it would be my fault, I had no idea where the AED was in this facility, and turns out there was only 2.... So still confused as to why a nurse on the third floor was calling me down on the first to address this because 1. I have no idea whats going on 2. you're completely panicked spewing information at me 3. you keep calling for all sorts of things not allowing me to address the first thing...

The phones in this building would not allow anyone to call 911, the nurse I handed report off to said that's no surprise but...what the heck?! I called from my cell and they arrived shortly... In the meantime I ran all around the building in search of AED. A CNA passing by with his phone to his ear said "It's at the front desk" So there I go wasting time in search of an AED wondering what everyone else is doing....The girl at the desk was totally oblivious and she was the one who CALLED the stat over head. I said there is supposed to be an AED here I need to find it...her response "uhh, whats that"... my response... "A DEFIBRILLATOR, to restart someones heart! People are dying here...So no AED still, I reach out to the nurse next door who is just finding out of this from me and she goes right to the AED...RN supervisor tries to be angry with her when she arrives meanwhile I feel as though she failed majorly by not bringing it in the first place or sending the other RN to grab it real quick one floor below...wasting time calling around to nurses who are not anywhere near and mostly useless.... I could not believe the nurse just calling and calling do this and that, and my supervisor giving me and attitude when I asked her to flush my nephrostomy toward the end of my shift...which was also a 7-3 task... I feel as though this was not an organized code and the facility needs to inform and inservice staff and an AED should always be taken to a code ..and the idea that 911 cannot be called from inside...is kinda scary...idk

[Sour Lemon]

This is difficult to read and make sense of, but I gather that you had a stressful shift. It seems like a quick orientation should be requested and given when working at a new facility. That way, you're at least somewhat prepared if an emergency arises.

[guest114]

you hit it on the nose. I pretty much came here to throw my feelings about what happened down, vent and look for some feedback. I am pretty much over it but I feel like a patient didnt get proper/punctual treatment due to all the chaos and lack of prepardness for any emergency (the crash cart was empty, two RN's were present and no one brought AED or anything with them...). We could not even call 911 for goodness sake, and I was unfamiliar with the facility, the staff, even the area in general but did what I could. I could feel every second pass like it was a thousand years while this woman needed this AED...thank god EMTS were quick. another day in the life lol

[guest114]

I'll end up deleting it after tonight, it's crazy long I know... I responded below. Ty for feedback. Always receptive to it. Night

[smf0903]

Wow, that sounds like it was a hot mess! Seems to me that there needs to be some major training in that facility. In my opinion, every single person working at a healthcare facility should know how to call a code, how to get ahold of 911, where the crash cart and AEDs are...that includes nursing, housekeeping, dietary, PT, etc.

And an empty crash cart?? Sheesh, what's the point of even having one?

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Wowsa! As an agency nurse, I would make sure you know where the AED is in every facility. I give offer that info to all agency staff I tour/ orientate to our facility. I would think that not being able to call out to 911 or overhead page has to be some type of citation...delay of care, quality of life, etc..

[Armygirl7]

How awful and stressful.

Maybe you can champion a training or debrief - there is so much to learn from your story.

If you take up the cause and hold a huddle/training or provide bullet points for your manager to hold huddles on these issues that is a nice thing to talk about on your resume or in your next job interview (which might not be far off if this place doesn't clean up its act right? )

You were running around trying to do the right thing for your patient and you identified some glaring gaps in the way a rapid response or code is supposed to function. I hope you can inspire improvement - for your patients and yourself!

[PFosterRN]

Please do not delete your story! The story you have just told is true not for one facility but almost every facility. The only way we can be prepared for the unexpected is to learn, practice, train, and learn again. I have been teaching ACLS and PALS for 30+ years. As a business we do mock codes for free standing facilities and almost every time we take on a new client they are clueless as to how to run a code in their location and where the equipment is located or how to use it. Most training is reactive and not proactive. We as nurses must demand time and energy be put towards GOOD education and training in how to respond to save a person's life. Remember our patients are someone's mother, father, sister, brother. It is our job to care for them the best we can and we can only do this if we are prepared.

Again your story is what I hear all the time. Please do not delete it. Maybe one nurse will read it and say wow I don't know where our AED is either, maybe I should find out. And the comment from the front desk person when you asked for the AED, is exactly what everyone says when I ask if they have an AED onsight. "A what?" This needs to stop happening and AEDs should be front and center, ready for use, and not hard to find.

Thank you for venting, maybe it will save someone's life!

Pamela Foster, RN

[brownbook]

Sounds like some of my nightmares.

Was this an acute care facility? I am hoping it was some kind of long term care facility, yikes!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Is this a hospital? If so, why would you call 911?

Color me confused.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

This has to be some type of free standing long term care facility. Not being able to call 911 and staff having to use their own cell to call is just insane. I don't think I would go back to an agency position at this place. This is extremely dangerous.

I remember working as an aide in a nursing home and a patient needed to be sent out, EMS was called, intubated in facility, then taken to local hospital. I remember the nurses being able to call 911 from the facility phones.

[Beatlefan, BSN]

Please do not delete your post! I think it will stimulate some good conversations. I went into nursing in my late 30s, 2nd career. One of MANY issues that I experienced in my 10+ years in nursing includes what you are talking about. I have a BIG problem with how nurses treat one another, and a big part of this comes in the form of communication. I see people not receiving proper orientations. I see people who show up at work and concentrate more on socializing and eating in the break room than they do caring for patients or communicating with co-workers about things that matter.

I have seen many good RNs leave my floor after realizing we do not even discuss a plan every once in a while, in case of a code. Thanks for your post!!