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B. Maintain airway when second responder arrives, and until the respiratory therapist
arrives.
III. 2nd RESPONDER:
A. Press Code Button
B. Dial 3-7200- Identify the room number
C. Bring crash cart to room.
D. Hook the patient up to the defibrillator. Attach the Quik Combo and electrodes to
the patient, and turn on the defibrillator, and analyze rhythm.
E. Take over compressions, until the Nurse Aide/Patient Courier arrives.
IV. TEAM LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Must be a registered nurse trained and certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support
(ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), or Neonatal Resuscitation, or a
licensed physician.
B. Oversee CPR
C. Assume ACLS algorithm according to cardiac rhythm.
D. Provides a brief history of patient when Code physician arrives.
V. 2nd/3rd NURSE (Airway and Circulation Nurse)
A. Ensure peripheral Intravenous (IV) lines are ongoing and patent.
B. Registered nurse to administer ACLS medications as ordered by Team Leader or
Physician
C. Assist in airway management until the respiratory therapist arrives.
D. Prepare supplies and equipment for intubation.
VI. RECORDER
A. Nurse recorder is responsible for documentation of all interventions during Code
Blue (Refer to Attachments).
B. Responsible for obtaining cardiac strips, especially after each medication
administration, defibrillation, or changes in electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring.
C. Ensure completion of Code Blue flow sheets, including the responding Code
Physician’s signature.
VII. NURSE AIDE/PATIENT COURIER
A. Assist team in performing chest compression.
B. Remove furniture in the room to ensure adequate space for resuscitation efforts.
C. Act as a runner for supplies requested not available in the crash cart
VIII. AT THE END OF THE CODE
A. Obtain an asystole rhythm and obtain an ECG tracing, if the code was terminated
and there was no return of spontaneous circulation.
B. Charge nurse ensures that the crash cart is returned to Central Supply for exchange
of new crash cart and all the charges are recorded.
C. Charge nurse ensures that Pharmacy is notified and medication box is replaced.
D. Charge nurse ensures documentation is complete, and Code Blue flow sheet is
completed. Original code sheet must be placed in the chart and copy to Nursing
House Supervisor.
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E. Begin post-mortem care, if applicable.
F. A code debriefing must be performed utilizing the code debriefing form
REFERENCE:
American Heart Association (2011). BLS for healthcare providers (Student manual). 1st
ed. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association.
RELATED POLICIES:
A-PC500, Emergency Equipment (Crash Cart) Maintenance, Preparation and Exchange
Process, of the Administrative Manual.
1001, Crash Cart Box – Code 72 Box, of the Pharmacy Department Manual.
1004, Crash Cart Box – Drugs Maintained, of the Pharmacy Department Manual.
RESCISSION:
6301-II C-4, Code 72 Team: Duties and Responsibilities, of the Nursing Services Manual
made effective July 2012.
ATTACHMENTS:
I. Code Blue Record: Adult/Peds
II. Neonatal Code Record
III. Code Blue Debriefing Form
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ATTACHMENT I
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ATTACHMENT II
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ATTACHMENT III
