Kathleen Natale
November 2022
Kathleen
Natale
,
BSN, RN
Emergency Department
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
,
PA
United States

 

 

 

Kathy was able to help any chance he had by using her experience and willingness to help by using every instinct she had.
It was a beautiful fall Saturday in Pittsburgh when Kathy Natale heard people screaming and shouting while shopping on her day off. Kathy realized that someone was in real danger and went running towards the area where chaos was happening. When she got there, she found a teenager who was struck by a car in a parking lot who had sustained life-threatening injuries. Kathy didn’t hesitate and jumped right in to begin CPR while a bystander called 911 to get additional help. As an ER nurse with many years of experience, Kathy did everything she was able to do to help resuscitate this child until EMS arrived on the scene. Even though the child succumbed to his injuries, Kathy was able to help any chance he had by using her experience and willingness to help by using every instinct she had. Shortly after this incident, Kathy messaged me and told me about it, just to talk it through with a fellow friend and colleague who would “understand.” I don’t think she realizes how extraordinary her efforts were in her very best attempt to help save a life, especially in an environment where she had nothing but her own skills. Kathy’s humility is what makes her such a remarkable nurse. This event happened on the last day of Emergency Nurses Week and I cannot think of a better way to honor Kathy and her efforts - today in this situation and every day she works to help all of the children she takes care of.