CODE STATUS: FULL COR, FULL TUBE. I PERSONALLY TRANSCRIBE THESE IN ALL CAPS (unless directed otherwise by the facility); IF CAREGIVERS ARE LOOKING FOR THAT INFORMATION, IT NEEDS TO STAND OUT.

Other terms for resuscitation used at various hospitals: CODE BLUE, BLUE ALERT, HARVEY TEAM, FULL CODE, EXPRESS TEAM, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). And then, there is DNR (DO NOT RESUSCITATE), NO CODE, NO CPR, etc. The orders for end-of-life status may be documented in the medical record, referred to as an Advance Directive.

CRASH CART – “Crash carts” are located in patient care areas throughout the hospital in case a life-threatening event occurs. All nurses, doctors, respiratory personnel--directly involved with patient care, know where the nearest crash cart is stashed.

Typical Hospital Scenario goes like this: A patient goes into cardiac or pulmonary arrest and “crashes.” A charge nurse, or other staff member will call a “CODE BLUE” (or whatever term is used at that hospital – someone calls the house operator or a special call button is pushed), and that initiates the bustling commotion! The hospital operator will announce on the overhead PA system that a CODE BLUE has been called and where it is located, multiple beepers simultaneously start chirping, and all CODE BLUE TEAM personnel covering that shift--from several different departments within the hospital (to include respiratory therapy, surgery, pharmacy, cardiology, house officers)--scurry up or down the back stairways to get to the patient in crisis-—STAT! Back in the patient’s room, floor nursing staff is already working to revive the patient; someone has already grabbed the nearest crash cart and it’s already in the room. It’s not unusual to see two or more crash carts from different departments of the hospital all end up there at that moment. A “code” looks like mass confusion to the outsider or untrained eye. But each professional knows his or her predetermined role to play when the code is called, with the end goal being “bringing that patient back.” A typical “code” can last anywhere from several minutes to well over an hour. Once the patient is stabilized, he or she is transported to intensive care or surgery, depending on the situation. But if the CODE BLUE team is unable to bring the person back, the on-call physician or resident, will “CALL THE CODE” (off) and pronounce the patient as expired.

Crash carts are manufactured by various medical supply companies, but more often than not, are customized from those red auto-mechanic Craftsman type tool chests, adapted with big wheels for “getting there in a hurry.” Probably they use these because they’re metal and sturdy, meaning they can take being banged into walls when whipping through hospital corridors and around corners in a jiffy. Because they are metal, they can be disinfected easily. Also, they’re built with many narrow drawers--some with locks (for certain Schedule meds), hold a lot of supplies, and last maybe forever.

A typical hospital crash cart will hold Ambu bags, a cardiac monitor/defibrillator, an assortment of medications for resuscitation, such as epinephrine, sodium bicarbonate, atropine, succinylcholine, etc., IV supplies, assorted gauges of needles and tubing, blood draw supplies, procedure trays (in case they need to do a tracheostomy or venous cutdown), respiratory supplies, latex gloves, masks, and protective gear for staff, as well as a host of other supplies.

I found a good example of a crash cart on the web. If you click on the drawers, they’ll open up, and you can see what is inside.

a href="http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cne/resources/clinical_skills_refresher/crash_cart/