Living Through My First Code…

Nursing school can be a challenging time for students. Resuscitation events are highly stressful situations that may be encountered by nursing students in clinical settings. Although resuscitation events are essential life-saving interventions for the patient in critical conditions, these experiences can impact the education of nursing students by offering unique learning opportunities in addition to emotional challenges. While the literature explores the outcomes of the resuscitation event, there is a gap in the literature on how nursing students perceive and respond emotionally to these critical situations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore nursing students' perceived feelings experienced during their first resuscitation event. Participants were recruited from a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program located at a University in the Mid-Atlantic area of the United States. Convenience sampling was used. Seven senior-level nursing students were recruited. Data was collected by a focus group interview. Five themes emerged from the coded analysis of the data. The themes include traumatic reaction, novice role, bad experience, lasting impression, and lack of knowledge. This research highlights the emotional experiences of nursing students during their first resuscitation events, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support and training. By addressing the emotional and educational needs of students, nursing educators can foster the development of skilled, confident, and compassionate nurses capable of navigating the complexities of resuscitation events.