For Galen Tampa graduate Taylor Eaton, the decision to become a nurse was deeply personal, driven by her own family’s experience in the hospital. That commitment to holistic care—for both the patient and their loved ones—was put into remarkable action this past summer.
Eaton comforted a dying patient’s family member in a hospital, and on another occasion, helped save the life of an injured bicyclist in the street to earn a commendation from the local fire department.
On September 11th, Eaton was driving on Gulf Boulevard in Madeira Beach, FL. when she came across the scene of an accident. A woman who had been riding on an electric bike was unconscious laying in the middle of the road.
While most people would continue to drive by, or at a minimum, call 9-1-1, Eaton parked her car on the side of the road, grabbed a pair of gloves, and went right to work.
Working with the help of two other good Samaritans, Eaton helped to slow the bleeding to the injured person’s head as well as keep her spine straight, ensuring her airways were intact. When the woman gained consciousness, Eaton calmly reassured the woman that she would be okay, and Eaton worked with paramedics from the Madeira Beach Fire Department to secure the woman and transfer her onto a stretcher.
Since Eaton was stabilizing the woman’s spine, she got to lead the 1-2-3 count to lift the woman onto the board before she was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to a hospital.
“I feel like I have a responsibility to help people,” Eaton said. “I just threw on my gloves and ran out of my car. I stepped away for a little bit (when paramedics arrived), but they let me keep her head stabilized and I helped transfer her to the board.
“If you’re holding airway, if you’re supporting the head or even if you’re transferring the patient from stretcher to bed, it’s on your count, 1-2-3.”
Eaton’s actions to help the injured person drew praise from the local fire department. In a letter of commendation, the Madeira Beach FD Deputy Chief John G. Mortellite II wrote, “In a scene that could have easily become chaotic, Taylor demonstrated leadership, poise, and compassion. Her ability to remain collected and become an integral part of the emergency response reflects great credit upon her character and her commitment to helping others. Rather than waiting for professionals to arrive, Taylor took the initiative to ensure that life-saving care was provided without delay.”
Shift Lieutenant George Hill said that these types of commendations go to members of the public who go above and beyond the ordinary duty of a citizen, and Eaton’s quick thinking and compassionate care helped the department do their jobs quickly and efficiently to help save the injured person.
“It was really nice,” Eaton said of helping the injured person. “I really didn’t expect anything, but I feel like I can’t walk away from people who were in need. Now that I like to think I know what I am doing, I can help in some sort of way.”
Two weeks earlier, in late August, Eaton was finishing up a clinical rotation in the emergency room at HCA Florida Northside Hospital when a patient went into cardiac arrest. As it was about to be a shift change and Eaton was available, she jumped in and helped with chest compressions to try to save the patient. Her hard work did temporarily save the patient, but as he was transferred to the cardiovascular intensive care unit, he went into cardiac arrest.
After completing her shift, Eaton decided to go to the ICU to check on the patient, when she encountered a young family member of the patient in distress. This time, Eaton provided compassionate care to the family member, comforting her in a difficult and scary moment before the rest of the family member’s family arrived at the hospital.
“I just walked over to her and gave her a hug and sat with her and tried to console her,” Eaton said.
The next day, she got a call from Galen Tampa faculty member Heather Pierce, Eaton’s clinical instructor, who said that a post about her was going viral on Facebook.
In it, the poster, Cheyenne Bolender, wrote, “This student was so kind to talk with me and give me such a long hug when I needed it. She stepped away from a learning experience to come support me…I just want to tell her thank you again.”
Bolender continued, “I will hold that memory forever and I am so grateful. You were a light on that horrible day. You’re truly the kind of nurse patients and families need.”
Eaton explained that she has personal experience being in Bolender’s position, which is why she ultimately decided to become a nurse after trying to make a career as a real estate agent after high school.
“When I was 13, I was told my dad only had three years to live,” she said of her father Steve, who had injured his kidney in a car accident as a teenager and was facing kidney failure as an adult. A kidney transplant in 2019 saved his life. “All through high school, my mom and I were in and out of the hospital with him. I’ve had nurses run me over tissues and give me hugs. I have always wanted to be a nurse that brought comfort to not only the patient but the family as well because it’s scary.”
Both of these moments are wonderful examples of compassionate care in action. At Galen, we strive to model our compassionate care behavior with our students so that acts like this become second nature and part of caring for the lives of many.
We’re so proud of the compassion and care Taylor showed in these two moments, and we know that Taylor will bring compassionate care to the table as a nurse every day. Her story speaks to the great work Galen College of Nursing faculty are doing in making sure our students are prepared for practice.
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