Even the script writers for “Grey’s Anatomy” or “ER” would have a hard time in coming up with the scenario that played out in a Nanjing hospital last week. And we have a star nurse in particular to thank for what could have been very exciting viewing.
At 07:02 on 2 September, Director of the Emergency Department Director at Lishui District People’s Hospital in Nanjing, Dr. Huang Gang, went to take the lift, as he often does. Also waiting by the doors were a patient on a gurney, a nurse and other hospital staff.
With many years’ experience in emergency first aid, Huang quickly noticed that the patient’s lips were purple and deduced that they may be experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest.
Asking the nurse to begin performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Huang then instructed another doctor to fetch an automated external defibrillator (AED) and called on staff in the hospital’s emergency room to ready themselves.
As the lift arrived, the nurse continued to apply heart compressions, having jumped onto the gurney herself, kneeling beside the patient.
She was still there performing heart compressions on the patient when the lift made it to the ground floor.
And as the gurney was rushed through the hospital lobby toward the emergency room, the heroic nurse not once stopped her efforts, all the while still balanced on the the quickly moving gurney.
Captured on the hospital’s security camera’s, footage of the gurney’s entire journey and the nurse’s actions have been published by The Paper, and can be watched via this link.
After the paramedics’ rescue, the patient’s heartbeat and respiration recovered, bringing to a close what would have easily passed for this week’s thrilling episode in Nanjing’s favourite hospital drama series.
With citizens’ memories of the millions of NATs recently undertaken still fresh, last week’s incident in Lishui serves as another excellent reminder of the undisputed dedication to their jobs that Nanjing’s medical professionals display, day in, day out.
