Recently our cardiac Cath lab team was called in for a patient who was planned for CABG the following day. He had presented to the ER in A-fib and progressively worsened developing flash pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress in ICU. He was taken emergently to the Cath lab and found to have worsening coronary occlusion. He continued to acutely decompensate in the Cath lab and arrested requiring CPR and ACLS protocol. An IABP was inserted, and he was placed on VA ECMO. He was ultimately transferred to HUP for advanced therapy management.

Michelle was the one RN on the call team with two very experienced RCIS team members. She handled this critical patient like a pro, was comfortable working with the CT surgery call team who came in, and it is hard to believe she has only been in the Cath lab since January. The technologists and the CRNA who were present for this case speak very highly of Michelle's skills and demeanor as a nurse. She is a strong nurse who is not afraid of critical patients. She expertly and compassionately cared for this patient for hours while advanced care placement was being arranged. And also maintained communication with his family who was waiting in the waiting room. We feel very fortunate to have Michelle as part of our heart and vascular team.