Broken Ribs or a Broken Heart?

Rarely as a health care provider do we get to see a patient come around full circle after being coded for cardiopulmonary arrest. 

A patient that was not my personal patient was found pulseless and unresponsive sitting in a chair in his room. My manager and I were the first people to go in to provide help to my coworker. 

Once we did a quick assessment of the situation we realized we needed to get this patient out of the chair and into a position that we can start CPR.

Meanwhile our assessment, the rest of the staff had already brought in the crash cart, called the code blue, and notified the physician of the patient's situation. 

We gently brought him down from the chair to the floor and I immediately began doing chest compressions and requested defibrillator pads  to be placed on the patient. I could feel his ribs breaking under the palms of my hands as I was doing compressions. Adrenaline full blast! To the point that when I stopped to check for a pulse I wasn't sure if it was me or the patient because of my adrenaline pumping so hard.
  

I definitely work best under pressure.

It was all worth while because we were able to resuscitate him getting a pulse back and he was able to follow simple commands. The code ran so smooth that by the time the code team arrived they didn't even do anything because we had it under control. I believe our prompt response was the key to his positive outcome. I was incredibly proud of my coworkers and myself for being able to remain level headed, communicating clearly, and working efficiently to resuscitate this patient.

I believe the key to a well run code is designating a leader that can communicate objectively and assertively. The code runs much smoother when everyone involved is not trying to call the shots. One person needs to be trusted to be able to make the best decisions until the code team arrives to take over. 

We did not designate a leader but I somehow became the unspoken leader in this code. I think that is because I am the most comfortable person in code situations and have had most exposure to code situations than my coworkers. Also, I know I am blessed to be able to remain calm, objective, and work really well under pressure. 

Furthermore, once we stabilized the patient we transferred him from the floor back to bed then transferred him to ICU for closer monitoring. 

A few days later when I returned to work he was back from ICU onto the floor and I was assigned to take care of him.

It was surreal! Just a few days ago this man was lifeless and I was doing chest compressions on him and now he was awake and talking like nothing ever happened! 

Amazing!

I have coded many patients but I have never taken care of them again after the code because unfortunately, they either pass away or get to ICU, code again,and pass away there.

It was really an amazing feeling to know that we saved this man's life and that he made it out of the ICU back to the floor!

He kept complaining of chest pain from the broken ribs. He didn't know I was the one that did the chest compressions and broke his ribs...but the way I see it is, broken ribs are better than a broken heart.

The best part of this whole situation was the nurse that was taking care of him the day that he coded sent him home this passed tuesday!!Talk about coming around full circle! Statistically that is HUGE!!! Less that 20% of people who code in the hospital survive to be discharged home!! I have never seen it happen before this!

It's just amazing knowing that we made an incredible difference in this man's life by swift and timely intervention! It was such a special experience for me to be able to speak with this man and take care of him AFTER we coded him. The fact that he made it out of the hospital alive and well back home makes me so proud of what we do as nurses!!

We are every hospitals front line. As nurses we make or break EVERY patient's experience! Ask any patient, they will tell you the nurses are what make the hospital experience.

I couldn't be more thankful for moments like this. It fulfills my life purpose: to make a difference, to make an impact, to leave a lasting impression. 

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. ~ Albert Pine

Until next time,

Norah