Nursing Airline Angels

Having a medical emergency is a frightening experience. However, having a medical emergency while flying thousands of feet in the sky can be petrifying. One never imagines when the airline attendant makes that dreaded call overhead seeking help from a medical professional, that 11 courageous and highly skilled nurses would rise to offer their services and expertise to save a life. This is what occurred on an early Saturday morning flight in November. This team of nurses with various backgrounds and specialties banded together and collaborated with in-flight teams, medical control, and fellow medical personnel on the plane to provide lifesaving care. Harnessing their expertise and training, care was provided in the air, no emergency landing was required and the fight team was able to safely land the plane where they transitioned care to the awaiting response teams. The safety and well-being of the team and fellow passengers were maintained throughout this emergency. The team of Cohen’s nurses led by the Chief Nursing Officer, Peg Duffy, maintained a calm demeanor and reassuring attitude. Every nurse had a specific role throughout the emergency. This included hands-on patient care, providing reassurance to fellow passengers and the flight team, or maintaining environmental safety. The flight team was in awe of the professionalism and expertise of all the nurses. They said that this person never realized that when they booked their flight they would be on an Angel Flight, with nursing angels who would save their life. This moment truly represents the core of a nurse to provide humanistic high-quality patient and family-focused care in any situation, whether you are on the ground, in a hospital, in an ambulance, or as a fellow passenger on an airline flight home from the Magnet Conference. These nurses exemplified excellence in nursing and make every nurse proud to be a nurse.