My first code

I experienced my first code last week. As a TCU nurse I have been to several rapid responses (including one on my own patient) and one code, because our floor is part of the code team and I try to go along for the ride if I’m not swamped, because eventually I will be charge nurse and have to respond to them. But, this was the first real code on our floor and the first time I have been one of the first people into the room. Thankfully, it was not on my patient. It was first thing in the morning, I was still getting report. I was in the break room behind the nurses station listening to taped report, so I didn’t even know it was going on until it was paged over head and even then I had to turn off the tape to hear the room number the second time she said it. I shut off the tape and walked into the station “Did she say our floor?!?” Everyone responded yes and said room 10. I hurried into the hall to see the patients nurse running towards me telling me they needed a back board. She is still in training and had no idea what to do. I ran and grabbed it and went running to the room. Our charge nurse and one of the night shift nurses were already in the room when I walked in doing compressions and trying to get oxygen going. We ushered the wife out who was sitting in the corner and a nurse went out to sit with her. We cleared out the chairs and got the overhead trapeze off of the bed. I have no idea why it was on there. After several attempts the Dr finally got him intubated and there was a slight rhythm, but not enough to generate a pulse, so we were still doing compressions. I ended up stepping in and doing compressions on him. I don’t remember what drugs we pushed. But eventually his pulse was strong enough to stop compressions and he was sent down to ICU. Unfortunately the last I heard he was posturing and they didn’t think he would make it.

Some quick tips for new nurses scared about your first code. The biggest relief is if your hospital does it right about a million and 1 people will be in the room to help you very quickly. You’ll actually have to send people away because they are just in the way. Things to do until the code team gets there. 1. Have someone working on the airway. A lot of codes that I have been too are because the person is choking. Do they need suctioned? Start bagging them if not. 2. Get someone on compressions. 3. Get the crash cart in there. 4. Get an IV started if they don’t have one. 5. Get the head board off of the bed so the Dr and respiratory can intubate if needed. 6. Clear as much out of the room as possible before the swarm of people arrive. Obviously you can’t do this all alone. The nurse aids can be clearing the room, getting the cart, and trying to get the headboard off. The RNs should be doing airway, compressions, and IV. Stay as calm as possible.