From Routine Check to Life Saved

Great nurses aren’t born—they’re made through moments that test their skills and heart. For Galen College of Nursing Richmond student Shelby Lambert, that moment came recently during clinical rotations when she spotted an irregular heart rate and acted decisively. Her vigilance ensured a patient received life-saving care in the Cardiac Renal Pulmonary Unit at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

What started as a routine check of a patient’s vitals turned into a serious situation. After receiving the report from the nurse assigned to a patient’s room, Lambert discovered that the patient’s heart rate was well above 200 beats per minute, a dangerous level. According to the American Heart Association, a standard resting heart rate is between 60-100 beats per minute, depending on age, gender, and physical condition. For most individuals, the maximum heart rate – when you’re giving 100% in an exercise for a short time – would be 220 beats per minute minus your age.

Lambert checked the patient’s heart rate again on another monitor to ensure that it wasn’t a monitor error, and then she also felt the patient’s pulse manually to make sure the numbers were correct.

“It was crazy, I couldn’t even count the beats, it was going so fast,” Lambert said. “I listened to him as well (with a stethoscope) and his heart rate was out of control.”

Lambert next alerted the nurse and went to get an electrocardiogram (EKG) device, which she said detected the patient was suffering from SVT, or supraventricular tachycardia, a condition that causes the heart to beat too fast. From there, the nurse alerted the doctor on the floor, and together, the nurse and Lambert administered medicine to the patient to slow down his heart rate to a normal level. From there, the patient was closely monitored the rest of the day, and was eventually moved to another floor with more specialized monitoring equipment.

According to clinical instructor and Galen Richmond Adjunct Faculty member Dr. Hind Jaber Daou, PhD, MSN, MHA, MT, CCRN, PBM-C, PLNC, Lambert’s critical thinking in the moment was rare for someone at her stage of the nursing education journey, and it helped save the life of the patient.

“I’ve seen a lot of students that just document it and move on, like they are just collecting numbers or filling boxes, not using critical thinking,” said Jaber of her many years as a mentor and nurse educator. “But for her, she picked up on it and she immediately recognized this isn’t a normal heart rate. Looking at heart rhythms is so advanced for her.

“That was a big deal because the patient could have gone to a deadly rhythm and could have needed more interventions and more worse outcomes.”

The next time Lambert’s cohort was back at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Lambert was honored by the nursing staff with a “Good Catch” award pin, and got to take a photo with the giant Instagram poster.

“Shelby’s vigilance, professionalism, and dedication directly contributed to timely, effective care—making a real difference in this patient’s outcome,” said Transitional Care Unit Nursing Manager Zhane Umpierre Velasquez, MSN, RN, CMSRN, who is a fellow Galen graduate.

Lambert, who currently also works at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital as a Nurse Extern, and worked in healthcare for nearly 10 years before looking to advance her career with a Galen nursing degree, said this was a moment that helped remind herself about how much she has learned, and how she can trust her gut and experience.

“I’ve been in the field for so long, and I question a lot and doubt myself a lot, and when things like that happen it makes me feel really good about myself that I am smart and I can do this,” Lambert said.

Shelby Lambert’s story speaks to the great work Galen College of Nursing faculty are doing in making sure our students are prepared for practice. Do you think you have what it takes to be a nurse who can make a difference in the lives of others?

Learn more about Galen College of Nursing’s programs and how you can start your journey.