kathy johnston, BSN, RN

Kathy's and Vonnie's teamwork, quick thinking and fast reactions are a daily part of being a nurse at UPMC Mercy. This was never more apparent as when a patient was receiving plasmapheresis in our Apheresis Department. After the patients' treatment was complete, the patient told Kathy and Vonnie he was having difficulty hearing and complained of problems breathing, which prompted them to take his blood pressure. His blood pressure was low and dropping and his heart rate was increasing. Kathy and Vonnie reacted quickly to these symptoms by placing another IV, giving the patient oxygen and calling a condition C. While Kathy continued to tend to the patient, keeping him calm, Vonnie went to speak with the patients' mother. Vonnie explained to the mother that her son was having difficulty breathing and they called the doctors to come to see him quickly. Vonnie didn't want the mother to be shocked when she saw a large team of doctors enter the door to sons' room.
The doctors transferred the patient to the ER, where he was intubated and admitted to CVICU.
While situations such as this are not common in the Apheresis Department, Kathy and Vonnie knew exactly what to do, their quick lifesaving reactions to the patient's symptoms got the patient to the ER quickly and safely.
The mother and son sent a message of thanks and appreciation to Kathy and Vonnie: "Thank you for all you did. Your compassion will never be forgotten."