Raulerson Hospital

Raulerson Hospital celebrated Hospital and Nurses week this past week. There were special games, activities and plenty of refreshments for staff to enjoy.  The theme of this year’s celebration was ‘One person can make a difference.’  That philosophy is at the very heart of the hard work nurses and hospital staff do every day for patients. It is a lifestyle of caring.  The staff of more than 400 nominated their colleagues to be recognized as outstanding staff members in various categories centered on patient care. The employees enjoyed both recognizing their peers, as well as being recognized.

Staff members began sharing an interesting story about one of our employees making a difference, which really exemplifies what Hospital and Nurses Week is truly about.  Gerry Soriano’s story is true.  Gerry Soriano is a Registered Nurse who works in Raulerson Hospital’s Operating Room as well as the Trauma Operating Room at Raulerson’s sister facility, Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. On March 26th Gerry was returning to Florida on American Airlines flight #1522, after enjoying a reunion with other natives from his hometown in Naguilian, Isabela (Philippines).  He was resting on the red-eye flight from San Francisco to O’Hare Airport when he heard an overhead announcement requesting assistance from any doctors or nurses on board the flight.

Gerry Soriano, Raulerson Hospital Operating Room Registered Nurse- BSN, is pictured here with one of Raulerson Hospital’s defibrillators. It is similar to the one he used on a fellow passenger who was experiencing a medical emergency on a flight he happened to be on from California in March.

Gerry thought he might have been dreaming. When he heard the announcement a second time, he realized it was actually happening.  The flight attendants had noticed the passenger –in need of medical attention, because she was non-responsive when they requested all seats be returned to their upright position. The woman in the seat was thought to have just been sleeping, until flight attendants could not wake the woman. They immediately requested assistance from any passengers with medical training.  The Operating Room Nurse from Okeechobee, Gerry Soriano, responded to the emergency at the back
of the plane, even as the plane was beginning its decent.

Gerry attempted to awaken the passenger by performing a sternal rub, which did not elicit a response from the passenger. He noted that the passenger, who was a female age 50-60, had symptoms that resembled a stroke or hypoglycemia.  He said her face was droopy and that she was drooling and sweating. He decided they needed to move her out of her isle-seat and onto the isle-itself to perform CPR.

Gerry began performing chest compressions on the passenger, while the flight attendant performed face-mask breathing on the passenger.  Other members of the airline crew brought an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and began to read its directions. Being very familiar with AEDs from his experience in the Trauma O/R, Gerry acted quickly attaching the pad to the patient and noting that the machine indicated no shock was necessary and CPR should be continued.  He and the flight attendant continued CPR for about 15 minutes, even while the plane was touching down.  By the time paramedics got on board at O’Hare the passenger had regained a faint pulse and breath.

Upon his arrival at O’Hare, Gerry had to board his connecting flight to West Palm Beach. “I was sitting there on the flight home asking myself, ‘Did that just happen?’” Gerry said.  Since the time this incident occurred in March, Gerry has not received any updates from the airline or the passenger, regarding her final outcome.  “I hope she’s alive.” Gerry reflected.

Although no follow up information confirms the status of the passenger Gerry assisted that day, it is evident that one person, truly can make a difference. On behalf of the Administrative Team at Raulerson Hospital I would like to thank all the nurses, physicians and clinical staff who make a difference to our patients and the community every day. We could not do it without you.

Sincerely,

Robert Lee
Chief Executive Officer
Raulerson Hospital