My First Code

It was the last day of Clinical. I was glad. I went, I saw, I learned it. I'm done with that, for now, right? Yes. Awesome. Filed in brain for future use, done.

Lots of people flaked out on the last day since they had gotten all their stuff done and hadn't missed any clinic. There were only 4 people in my group.

Our instructor planned on taking us around to watch IPPB and SVN treatments, plus whatever cool thing came up.

This day was still gonna be a drag though.

Until....

"Code Blue, One of the many towers, Jillionth Floor, Room at the end of the hall...."

Let's go!

I knew this would happen! Crap! How many compressions to breaths is it now?! Are there any breaths anymore?

"Just keep going till they tell you to stop."

Doable.

We get there, it's slight chaos, but no TV drama. Overall, very laid back.

We all get gloves on. I'm shaky and have a racing heart. All these people will watch me. What if.... we can't save the patient? Are these people cool with students doing this?

The first person in my group, a rather stout guy, starts compressions. I watch him, getting a refresher course. I'm the 3rd person to go. Let's rock..

"Press deeper." "Lock your arms." "Flatten both hands." "A little faster." "You're generating a pulse, that's good." "Is your skin usually that red? Or are you nervous?"

"It's hot," I say. That's no lie.

My instructor tells me to watch the waveform to see the compressions creating a heart beat, so my 3rd time stepping up for compressions, I watch it.. it's cool.

Meanwhile, Private Christian Party School students are standing in the hallway, watching and loitering, as they usually do. All made-up and no where to go.

My instructor asks them if they want to go in. "You know CPR, right?" This isn't the 1st time those PCPS students have just watched as Lowly Community College saves the day again. (Next time, if they're around, maybe I'll offer them a chance to go in again. After all, what's Daddy's money paying for? ;)

One of them looks eager to go, the other not so much, but by the time they get gloves on, we had brought the patient back.

AWESOME!!

I took off my gloves and you'd think my hands doubled as a faucet. Sweat was THAT bad. Grose, but interesting.

That was a great experience.

All the staff there were so nice. The "Code nurse" (who I thought was a Doctor) was very helpful, and I'm so glad that nurse was there beside me to make sure I was doing good while also being very patient. Another nurse who was there came by and thanked us when we were in the caf for breakfast.

Not only am I glad for the experience, I'm glad it happened. I feel so much better now. I'm sure I'll sweat and have heart racing every time, but this was amazing. The rest of the day is really a blur.

We can't wait to tell the Over-Eager Smart Girl who wasn't with us at that hospital today that we went to a code.... Heehee.

Finals next week. Party on! :-/