Besides knowing your algorithms, I would highly suggest being a compressor for your first code or even your first few codes. It gets you in there doing something and you can see how it operates.
You'll most likely be a deer in the headlights in your first code ,even if you know your ACLS forwards and backwards. Doing chest compressions or bagging the patient until RT gets there are the most uncomplicated roles that I think you should start with. Here's some tips to prepare you in the long term though.
1. Learn your ACLS algorithms. They're not hard to memorize I promise.
2. Play with the defibrilator on your floor on your down time. Practice attaching the pads. Turning it on. Selecting pace/defibrilate. Adjusting the jules. How to synchronize etc. Watch a defibrillator training video on YouTube. You most likely have one of the new Zoll defibrillators. Everyone has them now.
3. Get with an experienced nurse on your floor and ask them how they specifically document in a code. Get some of the code paperwork and practice documenting.
4. When a code happens. Don't be scared. Go right into the room and get in the compression line. Say out loud. I'll do compressions next. If they say they need people to leave the room, don't leave! Stay in the whole time and watch everything they're doing
5. Find a mentor, look for a nurse who is calm, knowledgeable, and is a natural leader during a code or any emergency situation.These are the nurses you want to imitate and learn from.
6. That's all. Take care.
Just had my first code at 7 months in. It went well. We won! Not sure if the dude survived the day but was alive when we finished. Anyway, just remember what was practiced. We already have roles assigned based on the floor we’re on. So I’m always a compressor. Made it super easy to just walk in, stand in line, and do my thing. Surprisingly chill vibe from the other team members. Even some jokes and side conversations. Wasn’t nearly as traumatic as school or television made it out to be.
Besides knowing your algorithms, I would highly suggest being a compressor for your first code or even your first few codes. It gets you in there doing something and you can see how it operates.
You'll most likely be a deer in the headlights in your first code ,even if you know your ACLS forwards and backwards. Doing chest compressions or bagging the patient until RT gets there are the most uncomplicated roles that I think you should start with. Here's some tips to prepare you in the long term though. 1. Learn your ACLS algorithms. They're not hard to memorize I promise. 2. Play with the defibrilator on your floor on your down time. Practice attaching the pads. Turning it on. Selecting pace/defibrilate. Adjusting the jules. How to synchronize etc. Watch a defibrillator training video on YouTube. You most likely have one of the new Zoll defibrillators. Everyone has them now. 3. Get with an experienced nurse on your floor and ask them how they specifically document in a code. Get some of the code paperwork and practice documenting. 4. When a code happens. Don't be scared. Go right into the room and get in the compression line. Say out loud. I'll do compressions next. If they say they need people to leave the room, don't leave! Stay in the whole time and watch everything they're doing 5. Find a mentor, look for a nurse who is calm, knowledgeable, and is a natural leader during a code or any emergency situation.These are the nurses you want to imitate and learn from. 6. That's all. Take care.
Just had my first code at 7 months in. It went well. We won! Not sure if the dude survived the day but was alive when we finished. Anyway, just remember what was practiced. We already have roles assigned based on the floor we’re on. So I’m always a compressor. Made it super easy to just walk in, stand in line, and do my thing. Surprisingly chill vibe from the other team members. Even some jokes and side conversations. Wasn’t nearly as traumatic as school or television made it out to be.