What a rush. Adrenaline is an amazing thing.

[lemonaidangel]

I did CPR today. A classmate and I got sent down to work in the ER this morning, and the very first patient I got assigned to was a code blue coming in on the ambulance. I thought I was just going to be observing, but, no, I somehow got sucked up into excitement. The charge doctor pointed his finger at me and said, "You, student, do compressions and put your full weight into it." So I did. For thirty minutes I alternated doing chest compressions and giving respirations with the ampu bag. It was a big crazy, crowded event with lots of doctors, lots of nurses, lots of commotion, and lots of STAT orders. It was absolutely nothing like what you see on TV. It was real, and it was scary, and I was a part of it. Unfortunately, the guy died. He was very young, not much older than me.The theory is that it was a drug overdose, but the doctors won't really know for sure until they do an autopsy. Whatever it was, it was not pretty. He died. Dead. Literally drowned in his own vomit.

So yeah, I did CPR today. I can't get it out of my head.

But I also got to do a lot of fun things too. I got to start a lot of IVs and draw blood, I did straight caths, I got to assist with the admitting assessment on respiratory distress dude, I got to watch and learn many new procedures, I got to ask a lot of questions. It was a good day. It was a stressful day. It was one huge adrenaline rush.

The emergency room ROCKS!

[NurseBettyICU, ADN, BSN]

WOW!! I got all pumped up just reading your post. Sucks that the patient didnt make it though. But props to you for stepping in and doing what needed to be done.

[Jw1724]

wow that must have been a crazy feeling. props for doing what you could, it's too bad he didn't make it.

[lemonaidangel]

It was very crazy. I almost didn't feel like myself when I was in that trauma room. It was surreal, kind of like I was watching someone else doing it. I wish he hadn't died---that would have made an even better first CPR story! But I suppose when it is your time to go, it is your time to go, and no matter how hard you try to prevent it, there is no stopping death. And then the doctors made me follow them when they went to tell the girlfriend that they did everything they could. I guess they thought it would be a good learning experience for me. It was really intense.

Five years ago, I would have never imagined myself actually being a part of a medical team in an emergency room. Heck, five months ago I would never even dreamed about it either. It's a weird feeling, but a good one. I think I like ER nursing. So much better than a med surg unit! :-)

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

These expierences are what helps you to decide what field you want to go into right out of school...every kind of nurse is valid. Be prepared that going into the ER right out of school, the learning curve is steep....Whenever you have a good day, it tends to make you think it's the best field ever.

Your post reminds me of my day in the ER....I was just standing, waiting for something to do, and then a code was called in the stress lab....so I go running behind the crash cart with everyone else...(of course, that's the day I'm wearing my baggy pants)....The patients was fine, just passed out from the chemicals....spent the rest of the day in the ER, and was more upset about missing the cubs game....