May 2022
Mindi
Aponte-Jordan
,
BSN, RN, CPN
Pediatric PACU
BayCare St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
Tampa
,
FL
United States
With her backpack still on, Mindi jumped into action immediately, delivering lifesaving care to the child, ultimately reviving the child.
Mindi came into the pedi pacu/preop unit about two years ago and has become a true leader within our unit, taking on the roles of PPC Chairperson, relief charge nurse, and preceptor. Every day she comes in with a smile, exceeding expectations of her patients, is flexible and willing to do whatever is needed to "get the job done" and is a role model to her coworkers. I would say that most nurses are fairly confident providing care in life-or-death situations on the job every day, having access to our medical equipment, monitors, medications and other coworkers to work as a team...but that was not the case in November. She was certainly no less than an angel walking the Earth to one particular family. As she was leaving after a busy day, focused on making it to a personal appointment on time, just as she was walking out...a family pulled their vehicle up to the front of the hospital and quickly rushed up to her, thrusting their limp lifeless child into her arms. The family was obviously very scared and worried for their child who was blue and not breathing. With her backpack still on, she jumped into action immediately, delivering lifesaving care to the child, ultimately reviving the child. She continued to provide supportive care until back-up could arrive and the child was able to be moved to the ER. She was able to provide comfort to the parents during and after the incident, communicating with them in Spanish. This was certainly a divine intervention: being in the right place at the right time and having the right knowledge and skills to save this baby's life - giving a new mother and father back a child they may have otherwise lost. She was late to her chiropractic appointment that night, but she was right on time for the divine appointment that God had called her to. I am honored to have her as a coworker and friend.