Two codes in my first week of nights during orientation

[fsv1024]

I'm still orienting and during the first week that I switched to the night shift I had my very first rapid response and first code--in one night. The next night I had my second rapid response and second code. What a week!!! The codes were handled excellently by the staff and I was really proud of the team on my floor.

I was able to get in there, start compressions and help out as best as possible even though it may not have been much. I admit I still felt useless even though I was able to lend a hand. I wish I'd known a few things. I was told to hang up a bag of saline "wide open". I felt like the biggest moron for not realizing this meant that I should take it out of the iv pump and let it run on its own. I'd never heard of this before! Thankfully I did as I was told and asked one of the experienced nurses what that meant. Still, in a chaotic setting this just seems like a nuisance.

Anyone have any pieces of advice or any other tid bits of info that would be helpful in case I experience my 3rd code in the near future? I'm crossing my fingers that it won't happen anytime soon!

[LETRN]

My advice would be to take ACLS...if your employer doesn't offer it, look into taking it on your own. It really helped me with my confidence during codes.

[LuvNurseJackie]

ACLS is helpful. Code blues are feared by alot of nurses - students and otherwise. It is a time of great chaos. In ten years in ICU, I've attended alot of them, and they sometimes turn out better than others. My biggest advice is to take a millisecond in the moment to take a deep breath, and think "I can do this". Nothing fully prepares you for being comfortable during code blues except having alot of exposure to them.