When every second counts, ER nurse Carlee Minyard steps up to the challenge. Her remarkable achievement of a 17-minute door-to-treatment time for stroke care at Saint Mary’s Regional Health System in Russellville, Arkansas, not only set a new record for the hospital but also showcased her exceptional skill, quick thinking, and unwavering commitment to saving lives. It’s no surprise that Minyard has been named the Nurse of the Week.
A Lifesaving Performance
For Minyard, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. A patient arrived at Saint Mary’s ER exhibiting classic stroke symptoms: slurred speech, facial droop, and complete one-sided weakness. Recognizing the urgency, Minyard and her team jumped into action.
“Time is always my number one thought because millions of neurons are lost every second during a stroke,” Minyard explained.
Thanks to her decisive response, the patient experienced a dramatic turnaround. “By the time she left, she only had minor deficits,” Minyard shared. “Her arms became less weak, and she could raise them up and hold them. Her speech completely cleared up. The way you feel when a patient completely turns around is indescribable—it’s a rush of happiness and joy because all your hard work pays off. This is what nursing is all about!”
A Team Effort Rooted in Excellence
Minyard credits her achievement to her skilled and supportive night shift team at Saint Mary’s. “My night shift team came together through communication and highly effective teamwork,” she said. “I’m blessed to work with amazing nurses who always support and help me during stroke care.”
Her success also highlights the importance of early stroke symptom recognition and immediate response. Minyard emphasizes the importance of knowing the signs of a stroke, using the BE FAST acronym as a lifesaving guide:
- Balance: Sudden trouble with balance or coordination.
- Eyes: Sudden vision loss or double vision.
- Face: One side of the face drooping or uneven.
- Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm; difficulty raising both arms.
- Speech: Slurred or hard-to-understand speech.
- Time: Call 911 immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
A Legacy of Exceptional Stroke Care
Minyard’s 17-minute door-to-treatment time demonstrates Saint Mary’s dedication to delivering world-class stroke care. The hospital’s commitment to rapid response, advanced protocols, and a highly trained team ensures better patient outcomes when seconds matter most.
Why Carlee Minyard is Nurse of the Week
Minyard’s ability to combine clinical expertise, split-second decision-making, and compassionate care exemplifies the best in nursing. Her record-setting stroke care performance saved a life and set a new standard for excellence at Saint Mary’s.
Congratulations, Carlee, on being named the Nurse of the Week and for reminding us all what it means to make a difference—one patient at a time.
Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.
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