Okay, I gotta blog it out cos it's definitely something worth remembering! So today I was in my cubical priming a drip for my patient when the public announcement announced, "Attention all medical staff. Code B for women's in Wd 42, POA, Bed (I forgot)."
Alright, some background story here. Yes, usually we do get code Bs but it isn't common for women's. It happens to the childrens side quite often. So once I heard women's, my brain started to react. When a code B happens in level 4, our ward is responsible for pushing the defib over.
After the whole announcement, and after absorbing the message, my colleague and I went over together with the defib and also to offer help and support the code B team. Yay to my senior for allowing me to go over. When we were there, we quickly set up the monitoring leads and the doctors were all there shortly after. My colleague started to set up the suction apparatus which was totally fail esp in a panic mode. I tried to help but I wasn't experienced enough to know how to set it up. And I think the last time I set it up was in 2009 when I was a student nurse. Eventually of course it was set up somehow and was just in time ready when the doctors requested for it.
Then someone passed me a pack of blood and asked me to hang it up. In a panic mode, I just went to hang it. And before releasing it into the patient, I realised that I did not check the blood group of the patient. The blood pack wrote "A positive". I had to be very very sure because it would be a nightmare if patient has a blood reaction in the midst of a resus. I shouted to an NM to give me the patient's blood group but she could not find it. Sigh. Then I squeezed my way out as I was obstructing the way. So the blood didn't start.
In the meantime, all the different teams were handling the situation in a tensed yet calm manner. The code B team leader was giving specific instructions. She was super steady! All the things I've learnt in year 3 as a student came to a real life situation. One moment someone said there was no pulse. Then after sometime, a stable BP reading was being read out. Phew!!
I met my APN at the outer part of the circle and I told her about my blood! She then confirmed that they did give me the correct blood. And I need not worry because that isn't as urgent as pt's ABC(you gotta study nursing to know what ABC is. Heh.). Then she said it was too crowded and asked me to go back. And I could not do much too!!
The experience was totally cool!! I don't know but I like the adrenaline rush and I like to be so kaypo. Hmmm, should I venture into that aspect? Well well. Will see how. But I'm so sad I didn't do much cos I am so inexperienced! I hope one day I will know everything and do things confidently and calmly!
So that's sums up my very first code B experience!
PS: Code B is Code Blue, and all medical staff are alerted when patient has a cardiac arrest. Just dont wanna get googled out.
And oh, I hope the patient is alright! I don't really know the outcome.