Laura Wunk
May 2023
Laura
Wunk
,
RN-BC, FNE-A/P
Emergency Department
Howard County General Hospital
Columbia
,
MD
United States
When help arrived, Laura acted as a leader, instructing those who came to help on how to get the female onto a backboard, stretcher, and into the emergency department for further care.
While working as the night shift Pivot nurse in the emergency department, Laura Wunk alerted me that she needed help and began running toward the emergency department parking lot. I grabbed gloves, and a wheelchair, and followed her. Upon crossing the threshold of the emergency department entrance, I saw an SUV parked in the drop-off loop.
A man had gotten out of the driver’s seat and was yelling, “Heart attack! Heart attack!” as he ran around the car to open the passenger side door, and began trying to pull a female out of the car on his own. Laura stopped the man from attempting to pull the female out of the car. The female was limp, and it was apparent that the man would have dropped the female if he continued to try and get her out alone. Recognizing the woman was unresponsive and the situation was emergent, Laura immediately called the charge nurse while checking for a pulse. She alerted the charge nurse to call for a Code Blue in the Emergency Department parking lot as the female had no pulse.
Laura and I were able to get the female from the car, onto the ground, and begin CPR. When help arrived, Laura acted as a leader, instructing those who came to help on how to get the female onto a backboard, stretcher, and into the emergency department for further care. The female patient achieved ROSC and was admitted to the ICU. It was reported that the patient was later discharged.
When reviewing the incident with her, I asked Laura how she knew there was an emergency in the parking lot. Laura stated that on the security cameras, she saw a vehicle entering the emergency department drop-off loop faster than what would be expected, and heard the driver honking his horn continuously. She knew something was wrong, told me she needed help and went to render aid. I have no doubt that without Laura’s attentiveness, swift action, quick thinking, leadership, and excellent nursing skills, this patient would not have had the positive outcome that she did. Laura consistently exemplifies what it means to be a nurse, and is more than deserving of a DAISY Award.
A man had gotten out of the driver’s seat and was yelling, “Heart attack! Heart attack!” as he ran around the car to open the passenger side door, and began trying to pull a female out of the car on his own. Laura stopped the man from attempting to pull the female out of the car. The female was limp, and it was apparent that the man would have dropped the female if he continued to try and get her out alone. Recognizing the woman was unresponsive and the situation was emergent, Laura immediately called the charge nurse while checking for a pulse. She alerted the charge nurse to call for a Code Blue in the Emergency Department parking lot as the female had no pulse.
Laura and I were able to get the female from the car, onto the ground, and begin CPR. When help arrived, Laura acted as a leader, instructing those who came to help on how to get the female onto a backboard, stretcher, and into the emergency department for further care. The female patient achieved ROSC and was admitted to the ICU. It was reported that the patient was later discharged.
When reviewing the incident with her, I asked Laura how she knew there was an emergency in the parking lot. Laura stated that on the security cameras, she saw a vehicle entering the emergency department drop-off loop faster than what would be expected, and heard the driver honking his horn continuously. She knew something was wrong, told me she needed help and went to render aid. I have no doubt that without Laura’s attentiveness, swift action, quick thinking, leadership, and excellent nursing skills, this patient would not have had the positive outcome that she did. Laura consistently exemplifies what it means to be a nurse, and is more than deserving of a DAISY Award.