Last week, two Practical Nursing students went through an unexpected experience that brought their education into perspective.
Micayla Jordan and Levi Werp, students in the Practical Nursing program, were on their way to lunch after a simulation lab the other day. Instructor Dawn Straley had been discussing end-of-life content but ended up running the class about a half an hour late before breaking for lunch.
“The class included me discussing that in all my years of nursing, I have learned that we are often in the right place at the right time with the patients we are meant to have,” Straley said.
Since it’s close to campus, Subway is often a good lunch option for students, so Jordan headed there when class let out, and Werp soon followed.
Jordan was filling her soda when she heard what sounded like someone aspirating—trying to breathe when something is blocking the airway. She turned and noticed a man sitting in a booth with his feet up and straining.
She and Werp, who had just finished ordering, rushed to the individual, lowered him to the floor, and started CPR chest compressions. Mouth-to-mouth CPR is no longer recommended; chest compressions alone are more effective for adults. They called 9-1-1 and took turns talking to the first responder and maintaining chest compressions.
Jordan recounted how all her focus was on was her patient, talking to him and trying to get him responsive. Between her and Werp, they did chest compressions for 10 minutes, during which the other customers crowded around, asked questions, and told them to do mouth-to-mouth. Fortunately, being in the moment allowed her to ignore all the distractions.
What Jordan wasn’t prepared for was the cracking of ribs as she did chest compressions. Since she’d only practiced on a simulation, it was surprising to feel that. Cracked ribs are a common side effect of CPR, and even if it’s disconcerting, you need to continue compressions.
Once the EMTs arrived, they took over and put on a defibrillator, shocked the individual two-three times, and then used a LUCAS machine, a chest compression device that provides consistent compressions and feedback data. The patient was soon stabilized and ready to be transported to the hospital.
But before the EMTs left, they took Jordan and Werp aside to tell them that this man was alive when they arrived because of their quick and steady response. After admittance to the hospital, he was known to be recovering.
Later that day, their instructors received a phone call from the first responders.
“It was amazing to receive a phone call from one of the firefighters on scene,” said Jenny Knaack, Director of Nursing. “They asked if I would let the students know that their immediate efforts initiating CPR and calling 911 saved a man’s life, and I was honored to share the message with both Jordan and Werp and celebrate. They are fantastic students and will do amazing things in nursing.”
The impression Jordan and Werp made from this experience cannot be stated enough.
“They not only addressed his physical needs but saw this person as a person and worked to care for their spiritual and emotional needs as well,” Straley added. “As a seasoned nurse myself, this is what really impacted me and impressed me so much with these students.”
Straley mentioned that when talking to the students about the experience, it “reaffirmed that they were meant to be there with how all of the events needed to align…and a variance of anything would have led to a potentially very different outcome for the person.”
Jordan shared that her body just took over when she saw the emergency. It wasn’t until afterward that the adrenaline caught up and she reacted to the entire experience.
“How do I know how to do this?” she recounted. “I still don’t know what the heck I’m doing, but I feel like that’s normal. For sure this has made me think I’m in the right field.”
Jordan has been working in the health field since she was 15 years old, when she was an activities aid at a nursing home. She completed her CNA and decided to continue on for her LPN here at SCTCC; she graduates in December 2023. The plan is to stay in the St. Cloud area and work as an LPN, but she hasn’t dismissed the idea of becoming an RN. For the present, she intends to continue working with the elderly as an LPN.