Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and NOVA member, Rishelle Zhou, DNAP, LLB, CRNA was recently on a flight across the country when there was a medical emergency a few rows ahead of her. The flight attendants asked if there were any medical personnel on the plane who could assist and Rishelle jumped into action.

Her education and clinical experience in critical care prepared her to care for an unconscious passenger. There was another medical professional on the flight, a dermatologist. He said he would follow Rishelle’s lead since CRNAs have more critical care training and are more experienced with emergency medical situations.

After this event, Rishelle also received a hand-written note from Washington State Representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, commending Rishelle for her quick intervention.

Richelle is a CRNA at VA Portland Health Care System and is also faculty at Oregon Health and Sciences Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Rishelle’s story was featured on the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) site.