Life Saving Courage at the Virtual Care Center

Trista Mitchell from the Virtual Care Center saw a HR on 10MPCU in the 30’s. Trista was unable to get through to the unit due to a high volume of phone calls at that time. She was concerned and decided to go with her intuition and called the red phone. I happened to be at the desk answering phones and picked up the red phone. She told me a patients HR was in the 30’s. I saw right away on the monitor that the patient was in sinus bradycardia. The nurse was just headed to the room for something else so I informed him of the low HR. The nurse found the patient with a pulse but unresponsive. The nurse told me he counted 4 beats and lost a pulse. He initiated CPR and called a CODE. In the time between the red phone rang and the nurse was taking a pulse the patient transitioned from sinus Brady to v tach and then to a-systole. We were at the patients side when they arrested. We did CPR for 10 minutes and were able to get return of spontaneous circulation. The patient was then upgraded to the proper level of care. I want to thank Trista for following her instincts and saving a life! 

Trent Clugston BSN, RN - Unit Director