Ran a great code today! I know it is not cool to enjoy one's work too much, but God damn I have a good job!
I was on with T tonight, the first time we've worked together since we were residents. It was great--we're both worker bees and we were each trying to outdo the other. The poor guy is on the night shift so he's still there neck deep in it while I'm home blogging.
At about 22:45 the ICU called a code to us in the ED. We run all the hospital codes at night so they just phone us instead of calling it overhead and waking all the patients up. T was with a patient so I responded to the call. I love running through the hospital hallways at night--it has the appeal of breaking taboos. I got to the bedside in a hurry--probably under a minute. Full code with compressions and bagging. I introduced myself, pro forma asked who was running the code and then announced "I'm running the code." I love that feeling, of having the ball in my hands and knowing the shot clock is running out fast. She was brady and pulseless so it was just cookbook. I ran us through the numbers and I'll be damned it it didn't work. That epi hit her heart and she snapped out of it for us. Racing heart, thudding pulse. Very satisfying. I hung Dopamine and Lido and did the paperwork. One of the nurses said "Thank you for saving her life." I was a little taken aback, but said "Sure, of course, she was lucky..." She replied "I was really worried we would lose her. Her son was so upset when we caled him." That felt great.
I have a job where I just kept some man's mother alive. I brought her back to life and he can visit her tomorrow in her hospital bed. That is a damn good job!