On the morning of Friday, a COVID positive patient on the ventilator and medically paralyzed, unable to breathe for themselves, had a spontaneous rupture of the cuff holding their breathing tube in place causing a true medical emergency. The patient's oxygen saturations were rapidly dropping, and Danette donned her PPE to investigate what was happening. She recognized the leak of the tube and attempted to re-inflate the cuff to no avail. She immediately called for help and provided bag-mask ventilation with another nurse that also entered the room.
Of course, it occurred during the awkward 1-hour period in the morning when there is no provider on the unit. Unfortunately, the ER physician was unable to come to the unit as he was in emergent intubation in the ER at that moment. The day respiratory therapist gathered supplies, donned PPE, and headed to the room and emergently reintubated the patient. The ER physician did eventually arrive at the bedside, but Danette and the therapist had it under control. This was outstanding care and collaboration in an emergent situation giving the patient the best possible opportunity for survival. Danette Toole gave a quick response to a decompensating patient and recognition of the problem to get the correct support for this patient.