Bekah is a highly skilled neonatal and pediatric transport nurse and in March, Bekah saved two lives; a neonate and pediatric patient.
In the 1st case, Bekah responded to a partnership hospital for a baby in severe respiratory distress. After Bekah's teammate intubated the child and an x-ray was obtained, Bekah noted there was a collapsed lung. She quickly placed a needle in the chest to restore lung function. The other lung was also noted to be collapsed so she inserted a second needle. One of the lungs kept collapsing, causing a drop in the patient's oxygen level so Bekah placed a syringe on the needle and intermittently pulled out the excessive air, allowing the lung to re-expand for the entire transport.
The 2nd patient was a school-age child in respiratory distress due to her lungs filling up with secretions. Shortly after ort arrival to the referring facility, the child coded. Bekah assisted the physician in code management, administering code drugs and communicating with the NCH medical Control Officer. After it rings, the patient was stabilized enough for transport. Because of the lung secretions, the ventilator would not work. Bekah and the team bagged this patient for the entire flight to NCH, at a high rate, simulating a high-frequency ventilator. The physician at the NCH PICU commented afterward that she had no idea how they were able to get the child back to NCH alive.
Both of these cases highlight the clinical expertise of Bekah. She truly made a difference in the lives of 2 children at NCH.