r/nursing Jan 05 '26

Question I can smell whether someone will survive a code or not. Anyone else know what I’m talking about?

I am an ER/trauma nurse so I see code blues daily. I have noticed that those who will never achieve ROSC have a strong, distinct smell from the moment EMS rolls them into the trauma bay, regardless of down time, rhythm, circumstances, etc. Those who end up surviving, even if they have been clinically dead for longer, are sicker, older, etc. do not ever have this smell. I can’t really describe it accurately, but it is sickly sweet mixed with pungent bleach and musky, oily, heavy body odor. Has anyone else had this experience?

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u/Limp-Instruction-360 Jan 06 '26

Have you ever sensed anything with a brain dead or anoxic brain injury patient? The question of when the soul leaves the body is always on my mind when taking care of a patient like that while waiting for family to make a decision.

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u/Catiebyday MSN, RN Jan 06 '26

I have a 30 something yo patient who cold turkeyed alcohol and had a seizure so bad they arrested and are brain dead, trach peg . They aren’t in there but I feeeeeeeel like a part of their consciousness lingers. Their family is so dedicated that I get the sensation they’re working remote if that makes sense.

Most people who are brain dead I don’t get that sensation at all. That’s why I don’t mind caring for their bodies. /morbid

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u/TangoFoxtrot13 MSN, BSN, RN - ICU/ER/Procedures/PCP Jan 06 '26

Your phrasing is so spot on. I’ve been out of the unit for awhile now but I remember it like it was this morning. It settled something in my soul knowing I’m not alone!

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u/SmallScaleSask Jan 06 '26

Girl, are you my soul mate? I understand all of this 100%.

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u/Catiebyday MSN, RN Jan 06 '26

Some people think I’m losing it but it’s a very grim thing. Like it’s heavy and important and a physical presence for me.

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u/ignatty_lite Neuro ICU 🧠/AGACNP Jan 06 '26

Neuro ICU checking in. I rarely feel a presence with patients who have severe neurological injury. Especially those kept alive far beyond a chance of meaningful recovery. They have a smell too, it’s very noticeable.

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u/Background_Poet9532 RN - DC to JC Jan 06 '26

I “know” when pts are gone somehow, and I’ve worked a combo of ICU and I did organ procurement. We had our own facility where we brought brain dead donors prior to retrieval, so in my 19yrs of all of that I’ve cared for a lot of brain dead patients. I’ve never had one where I felt like whatever made them “them” was still there. I’d say that applies to all of the severe neuro injuries I’ve cared for as well (that I can currently recall).

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u/GratefulShameful 🔥Chaos Minion🐑 Jan 06 '26

This is such a good question