It was another routine day at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Roel Tiberio, BSN, RN had finished lunch and was walking back from the hospital’s cafeteria to the Endoscopy Center where he serves as nurse manager.
Suddenly, he heard a commotion outside the pharmacy and saw an elderly man collapsed in the hallway. Immediately, Roel raced to the patient and quickly assessed that the man had no pulse, was not breathing, and was cyanotic.
Grace under Pressure
He called to the nearby pharmacy technician to alert the code team. As another colleague was racing down the hallway to assist, Roel asked her to grab the nearest AED machine. Waiting for her return, Roel instantly began CPR.
Upon his colleague’s return, Roel hooked up the patient to the defibrillator. Although appearing outwardly calm and collected, Roel recalled his thoughts of nervous concern, “I had never shocked anybody before, but I knew I needed to do what was required.”
“I had the RQI training program a week before the event, and without that training, I don't think I would’ve been able to perform what I had do.”
Once they shocked the patient, Roel resumed CPR. After a few minutes, the code team arrived and Roel saw the patient breathing on his own. The man was quickly transported to the Emergency Department for further care.
Roel Tiberio, BSN, RN shares how he used RQI-honed skills in a hallway emergency at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (a RQI Lighthouse organization)
Pride in Preparation
Reflecting on the quick actions of himself and his colleagues, Roel expressed his gratitude and pride, “I was so proud of myself and the people around me at that moment. RQI prepared me for this. I had the RQI training program a week before the event, and without that training, I don't think I would’ve been able to perform what I had do.”
The following day, Roel learned that the patient had been admitted and decided to stop by his room for a short visit. The patient’s daughter was in the room and upon learning Roel’s role in her father’s incident, she became overwhelmed with emotion, crying and hugging Roel.
She asked Roel for a photo with her father and he graciously consented, reflecting, “This picture is so rewarding and so fulfilling. It will always remind me that as a nurse, I made a difference in someone's life.”
“Repetition Makes it Perfect”
Soon afterwards, Roel received a letter from the patient’s wife expressing her deep gratitude for his emergent care for her husband:
“You were surely in the right place at the right time, but it was your professionalism and skill that delivered him back to our family. For that, no amount of words, thanks, and gratitude is sufficient to express our overwhelming feeling of Providence. Thank you for all you do every day. It was life changing for our family. We will never forget you and forever be grateful.”
Roel was deeply touched by the woman’s letter, noting, “Those are powerful words that I will actually cherish until the end of time. With RQI, repetition makes it perfect.”
