Rogers CPR training helps residential care specialist save family member

08/13/19 04:13:pm

Orientation for new employees with direct patient contact involves instruction of safety techniques and live-saving interventions like CPR. Rachel Nelson went through CPR training through Rogers’ orientation in June and recently used what she learned to save a family member’s life.

Rachel, who works as a residential care specialist in Oconomowoc, performed CPR on her stepfather while waiting for emergency services to arrive after he went into cardiac arrest at a family gathering.

Her story was recently featured in the local news and the EMTs attributed Rachel’s quick action as the reason her family member is still alive.

“I really have to credit the trainer that I had during this time for taking the time to help me one-to-one,” Rachel says. “I had previously taken CPR training because of jobs I have had, but the most recent training I had with Rogers really helped to solidify my knowledge of what to do.”

Michael Cattani, who recently transitioned from talent development to be a deployment leader with the Rogers Improvement System, was Rachel’s trainer for the CPR class.

“The Talent Development team really prides itself on offering quality training for new employees,” he says. “It was great to hear that the tips we provided her helped in some way. When Rachel reached out to me about this, I told her that no matter what the training is like, it takes a special type of person to react in the moment. Focusing and acting with intent in a high stress situation like that is much easier said than done. I’m sure her family is grateful for her.”

Rachel is a proponent of more people learning CPR and says they shouldn’t hesitate to use these skills.

“The most important thing I can promote with this situation is to not be afraid to take immediate action in a cardiac arrest scenario,” she says. “The quickness of my reaction time and the quality compressions I did helped to save my stepdad’s life. With cardiac arrest, every second counts in that kind of scenario.”