Nurse Emily to the Rescue!

A registered nurse involves more than having credentials or a job title. It is a profession and a lifestyle. One clocks out at the end of a shift. Having the ability to care for others becomes second nature and is instilled inside and never ceases. As a spiritual individual, I always hold in my mind “do unto others as you would want done unto you.”

On a cold weekend evening, my significant other and I went out to eat at a nice place. Having raved about the restaurant a few times, I was excited to show him this new spot. Since there was a bit of a wait, we decided to sit at the bar where service would be quicker, and the food would be just as enjoyable. Couples came and went and as we were nearing the end of our meal, I suddenly heard a loud thud and a woman screamed a few bar stools down from us. When I looked over, I realized that a man had fallen from the stool and was lying face down on the restaurant floor. In this moment I realized that I was in the right place at the right time. I have thought of similar scenarios so many times in my head before. It ultimately is part of the self-reflecting process that comes with the nursing profession. Feeling the adrenaline rush as if I were in my first code blue at work, I ran over to the man and with assistance from another gentleman, turned the man over to assess his breathing and pulse. Once we turned him over, his eyes shot wide open and the man sat up and proceeded to jump to his feet. We then assisted the man back onto the bar stool. He had a gash to his forehead that continued to bleed. To stem the bleeding, I applied napkins, and the bartenders generously provided me with more. I introduced myself to this man and his significant other stating “I am a nurse.” As I did this, another gentleman who happened to be a doctor came over. We assessed the individual together and agreed, it would be best to phone for an ambulance to take the man to the hospital for further evaluation. After all was said and done, the man stated he “choked on some pizza that was too spicy” and told me “I should’ve stuck with the pasta dish!” Needless to say, he was going to be just fine and could enjoy many more pasta dishes going forward.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 ESV).

As I went to the restroom to wash my hands, I felt a sense of comfort knowing others responded as quickly as I did. The adrenaline rush began to subside, and, in this moment, I felt blessed that I was a nurse. I was able to show my passion of caring for others outside of the hospital setting. It is the concept of time that encompassed the entire event. Being in the right place at the right time in order to help someone else have more time.

Written by guest blogger, Emily Nemecek, R.N. who just happens to be my angel daughter. We are proud of you, Emily.