kenya polk, BSN, RN, CEN

An 87-year-old male arrived at the Emergency Department as a Code 3; CPR was in progress. Kenya was the Primary RN for this code. It was reported by EMS that the 87-Year-Old Male choked on his food while eating lunch, followed by a seizure and collapsed; the patient was reported "down" for 15 minutes with asystole / PEA, prior to arrival. The patient received multiple doses of epinephrine without resolve and was pronounced dead by the attending provider.
Kenya's attentiveness alerted her to the cardiac monitor that eventually showed a changed, viable rhythm, and she announced with advocacy and authority, "We are NOT calling this; I am calling this ROSC." Kenya and the ED team proceeded with ROSC protocol, the patient survived and was transferred to the ICU.
Due to Kenya's heroic efforts and her act of vigilance, she saved this man's life. Not only did Kenya save this man's life; she saved this man's family as well. The family's look of sorrow and grief was soon replaced with hope due to Kenya's lifesaving efforts.