As the first wave of respondents to the “code blue” call arrived at the 7 North nursing station, Dr. Stephanie Smith was overheard saying, “OK people let’s make a good show of this thing”.

Smith, who had become a self-described “realist” during her final year of training, made it abundantly clear to her eager intern, Dr. David Thomas,  that “you can count aloud and even stand on a stool  while you are giving compressions, but I want your elbows bending and absorbing the full extent of your efforts.

Under no circumstances is Mrs. McGillicutty’s  sternum to actually move up and down”.   Dr. Thomas was becoming visibly upset that he may not be able to fully relay this episode at his family’s upcoming Thanksgiving Dinner.

Much to the code team’s relief the nursing supervisor was able to take a quick break from spinning rapidly in circles and shouting “Who is running the code?” in order to come up with the appropriate DNR paperwork.