Document: ADMAGAZINE_MAIN_1ST_11-09-09_NURSINGFALL19_B_M_19_44444;Page: 1;Trim size: (8.375 x 10.875 ");Plate: Composite;Date: 23 Oct, 2009 12:33:50
CoverStoryy
of adisaster,” Lowder said.“Ithas made
me appreciate what’s going on with the
ambulance crewsand firedepartments. Ican
actually see both sides of the coin now.”
He noted that the firedepartment h as
added morelifejackets on the rescue trucks,
and he nowkeeps afloat in his personal
truck—just in case.
“I put my ownlifeindanger because I
would hope someone would do that for me
if something happened to me or my family,”Nathan K. Lowder, BSN, RN, CEN Angie Madden, RN
he said.
Employed: Emergency Department, Employed: AmbulatorySurgeryCenter, Divine intervention |
Monique Myles-St.Francis Hospital–Mooresville. St.Francis Hospital–Mooresville.
Washington, RN, didn’t want to go to theDayjob: As interim manager,Lowder Dayjob: As an OR nurse in an outpatient
pool in her apartment complex onedayconcentrates on improving productivity, surgerycenter,Madden assists with
late last summer,but she gavein to pleashiring nurses,managing budgets,serving surgeries as well as pre-op and r ecovery
from her four children. Looking back, sheon the emergency response team and —averydifferent environment from
considers the decisionablessing.hazmat disaster committees,and ensuring disasters.“Wehavetobeonour toes in
the department runs smoothly. case an emergency situation would arise While Myles-Washingtonplayedwith
during surgery,”she said.“Weca nstill use her youngest children, her stepsonnoticedCommunity involvement: Volunteers
those skills.” alittle girllying at the bottomofthe pool.with the Morgantown andWashington
Sheimmediatelydoveintothe rescue.TheTownship fire departments and helps Community/volunteer involvement:
the Morgan County Emergency Medical Volunteers at First United Methodist in unconscious 5-year-old had afaintpulse
ServicesAssociation and local emergency Mooresville,performing blood pressure and was blue,soMyles-Washingtonstarted
preparedness committee of Morgan screenings and providing health-related CPR,coordinated a911 call and led the
County.Heisaclinical instructor for information for the church’sbulletin attempt to locate the girl’smother.
the Indiana University School of board; spent aweek caring for survivors in “I was praying the whole time Iwas
Nursing at IUPUI. ahospital camp after Hurricane Katrina; giving compressionand thinking about my
plans to taketheAmerican Red CrossHow he went above and beyond: ownkids,” said Myles-Washington, anurse
disaster relief training so she can helpBravedfloodwaters to rescue awo man in the transitional care unit at St.Joseph
during future disasters.experiencing heart-attack symptoms.
Hospital in Fort Wayne.“I feared IwouldHow she went above and beyond:
His definition of areal-world hero: fractureher ribs.”Organized shelter and care for pets of
“A person whodrops what he is doing The child was revived, and Myles-June 2008 flood victims.
and helps someone because it’sth eright Washingtoncomforted the girland her
thing to do.” Her definition of areal-world hero: “A older sister until the firedepartment arrived.
real-world hero is someone whogives of It was agood ending:That same night the
themselves to others without thinking of girlwas backhomeand playing marbles.
personal gain.” The emergencytookMyles-Washington
out of her comfortzone.
“But after the incident Irealized that even
higher than we had anticipated,” Lowder road and to the hospital.The good news is when youare in fear youcan stillreact the
said.“LuckilyIhad my four-wheeler on the that theyall made it, and Lowder did get wayyou aresupposed to react,” she said.“It
backofthe trucktogiveussomeweight, home safelythat evening.But he tooka boosted my confidence when Iwas on the
and that kept us from floating away. Iasked personal financial hit from the flood.The floor with my patients to knowthat. Other
the husband if he could swim, and he said 500 acres on whichhefarms and raises cattle people maynot knowI’m anurse,but I
‘no.’Ithought, I’mreally hosed. Forthe sustained thousands of dollars of damage in know, and Ifeel it’s aministry. No matter
first time in my life, Iwas actually scared I ruined hayand fencing. whereIam, Ihavetobeproactive.”
wouldn’t make it home that day.” Still, he volunteered to help others in Myles-Washingtonreceived aCitizen
Braving water that gushed from huge danger of losing far more. ActionMeritorious Awardfrom the Fort
culverts, theyreached the woman.Theythen “Working in ahospital environment, you WayneFireDepartment for her quick
repeated the process to get her across the don’tknowwhat happens on the street side response in saving the child’s life.●
1ST Indiana Nursing Quarterly •indystar.com/INQ •Fall 2009 19
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