So today.....I actually responded to a Code Blue....
My preceptor and I were on our way to check on some ICU patients when all of a sudden the PA voiced: Code Blue, CT Room, Tower Level 0......Code Blue, CT Room, Tower Level 0. We were with another preceptor-student pair at that time and decided that I will go to this Code since the other student is almost done her year and figured I needed to see this more than she. So we ran down 2 flights of stairs, through the hallway, and finally went into the CT Room. uhmmm I have to say at this time, I was excited (don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing) but I was running then I realized I'm going faster than my preceptor...So I slowed down a bit and turned around, she said "Don't wait for me! Go to the bedside, get to the head and get a Bag going!" So I ran in.
When I entered, a doctor was already "manually ventilating" (aka bagging) the patient and CPR was underway. So I found the Code Blue cart and began digging around for intubation equipment. I turned around and saw that there was already a Laryngoscope on the bed so I figured someone already had all the intubation equipment ready...this was not the case. My preceptor soon came into the room and I told her, "Should I prep for intubation?", "Please do" was her answer. So I got everything ready - unfortunately I was quite slow b/c I wasn't sure where all the equipment was and the environment in general was so busy. Another staff RT entered and she quickly looked through all the equipment I have prepared, soon after, it was passed to another staff RT who was helping my preceptor bagging the patient...so yes at this time, there were 3 staff RTs and 3 student RTs in the room, in addition to the multitude of Doctors, Residents, and Nurses.
About 5 minutes (felt more like 15 but that can't be...) into CPR, the docs finally decided to intubate and an Anaesthesiology Resident tried intubating twice with no success. The Resident then asked for a different type of artifical airway, but we don't have these things on the Code Blue carts, they're on the Difficult Airway carts...so 2 of the Student RTs ran all the way up to ICU to grab some. He then asked for a smaller sized tube - something that I should have prepared but totally forgot about - hoping it'll be easier to intubate with. So I grabbed a smaller sized tube and prepared it. After failing to intubate again, the doctor stepped in. He had some trouble getting it in as well, but after a 2nd try, he got it. The placement of the tube was confirmed by my preceptor and he was prepared to move into Emergency Dept. Remember those 2 student RTs who ran up to ICU? they came back....all sweating, flush red, and looking like walking stock carts...AFTER intubation was successful...so at least they got a good run out of it and the patient did not die...at least not on our watch.
Oh and also...remember in the beginning when I was with another pair of student-preceptor? well their patient also crashed in the CCU....it was a gigantic mess this afternoon...2 patients crashing at almost the same time...
Ahhh.......so there...I got my first real Code Blue where CPR was actually happening and the patient had to be intubated, ventilated, and ICU-bound...pretty scary stuff, but I think I did pretty okay considering this was my first Code...I kinda just stood in the back, trying to stay out of ppl's way, but I was trying to help out as much as I can by prepping equipment etc...next time I will run to the bedhead and take over bagging the patient so the physician can control the situation freely....
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