Med Surge and Simulation Center

Handling a Code Blue

Alyssa Olivarez, a medical-surgical nurse at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital in Beeville, felt nervous about handling a code blue.

As a newer nurse on a unit that does not see many cardiac arrest emergencies, she was worried she did not have the right skills to help a patient whose heart stopped beating.

She wanted to be sure she was confident when the intercom announced a code blue, and nurses rushed to revive the patient with CPR. Olivarez asked her manager for training.

It is common for new grads to say they are nervous about getting a cold blue.

New nurses feel like they're going to freeze or they're not going to know how to respond, said Meagan Serrano, clinical director at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital at Beeville and Olivarez's supervisor. My goal is to give them the tools to succeed, and I always want them to know that we have these resources available to learn.

The resource that Serrano relies on is the CHRISTUS Health Simulation Institute. The sim lab can replicate the atmosphere of almost any intense situation, such as SWAT team responses, emergency room scenarios, and code blue scenarios, said Dallas Cantu, a clinical simulation technical specialist with the simulation center.

As soon as it starts, it is just like an actual code blue, Cantu said. The nurses are expected to go out and get the crash cart, hook up a responsive mannequin, get the meds, and do CPR.

Cantu is typically in charge of the simulation, using an iPad to create specific scenarios for the mannequin. He monitors the simulation as it progresses, making real-time adjustments based on the participants' actions.

This mock code mimics real-life situations, providing valuable learning experiences for the nursing staff.

These simulations weren't just about following protocols; they were immersive experiences that challenged the nursing staff to think critically, act quickly, and communicate effectively under pressure.

The simulations provided a safe space for Olivarez to make mistakes, learn from them, and refine her skills in a supportive environment.

When we have these mock code blues, we're able to think through if this really happens on our floor, we're able to think about the H's and the T's, we're able to think about what medications we're going to give if we have to run the code, Serrano said.

Olivarez's confidence began to increase as she participated in the simulations. She no longer felt overwhelmed or unsure of her role during a code blue event.

One night, Serrano received a 3 a.m. call from Olivarez.

She had her first code blue.

She said, ‘I know you're sleeping, but I just had to tell you I had my first code blue, and I was not even scared. I felt like I knew what I was doing, Serrano recalls. And to hear her say that, it made me feel so much better. And I know it was because of the sim lab.