Full code
Formal Definition
A patient who wishes to receive all resuscitative measures — CPR, intubation, pressors — if their heart stops or they decompensate.
How It's Used on the Ward
"He's a full code" — means everything. DNR means "do not resuscitate" — no CPR.
Example
""Patient is a 45-year-old with no prior medical history. Code status is full code. If he arrests, we're doing compressions, intubating, and running the code.""
Clinical Context
Code status conversations are among the most important you'll have. "Full code" is not a permanent state — many patients change it as they age or become ill. Always ask, and ask early before a crisis happens.
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