IU Health Bloomington DAISY nurse uses skills to do good

First responders, public safety professionals and healthcare providers are trained to care for a wide range of health issues. But what do you do during a medical emergency when there’s no healthcare professional in the area?

“Basic life support (BLS) can go a long way for anyone,” says Shannon McCarthy, RN. “No one knows when the time will come to you or your loved one, but having the extra knowledge could save a life.”

BLS focuses on recognizing and caring for several life-threatening concerns, such as cardiac arrest and obstructed airways. Members of the public can use these skills to help until healthcare professionals arrive, and McCarthy credits the EMS dispatchers on 911 calls for the assistance they regularly provide.

McCarthy works in the Bloomington Pre-Op Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), was nominated for the DAISY Award after she walked an individual through CPR over the phone until an ambulance arrived.

“The experience was a powerful reminder that nursing extends far beyond the walls of the hospital; our impact reaches into families and communities in profound and unexpected ways,” says the award nomination.

“Everyone is human and everyone needs some sort of help in some form,” McCarthy shares. “We all have different gifts, talents and knowledge that others may not have that we should share with others.”

Helping others can also mean assisting with someone else’s patients when needed or talking to a team member after long days, and McCarthy is glad to have a team that counts on and cares for each other.

“Everyone acts like we are a team and not just an individual here. Nursing is tough as it is, so surrounding yourself with great team members helps.”