"Nurse Megan" helps save a life at Kohl's

Years ago my daughter Megan was on summer break from college (a senior in the nursing program) and was working at Kohl's in town.  She worked 2 shifts that day … 8AM to 2:30PM … then another from 5:30PM to 9:30PM.

She pulled into the driveway that night at 9:30PM which was early.  I was in the family room when she walked in.  I turned and asked “Did you get out of work early Meggy?”  She looked at me and started to cry … Not what any dad or parent likes to see … FATHER RADAR ENGAGED ...

She said “I have to tell you something bad that happened”.  I can tell you those are words a parent doesn’t want to hear.  Deep breath … deep breath …

She calmed down a bit and sobbing … told me what happened.

Kohl's has many sections; clothing, shoes, jewelry, and it includes a kitchen section.  While on her evening shift a young woman came through her line and purchased a large kitchen knife.  Megan asked the usual, do you have a Kohl's Card, Kohl's Coupons, etc.   She said the customer was friendly, and they chatted … next customer.

Megan went on break.  Soon after there was a “Call 911” over the employee headset.  Megan came out of the break room and saw people crowding around the bathroom so she went in.  The last stall in the bathroom had blood all over the floor.  A woman had tried to commit suicide … several wounds … one very deep forearm wound … blood was everywhere … It was the same young woman who had purchased the kitchen knife from Megan a few minutes before. 

Megan put on gloves from the store first aid kit … she took the knife away which was still in this woman's hand … she applied pressure to the wounds and started talking to the woman.  Meggy told me she thought the woman was going to bleed out …

She started asking the woman questions to engage and told her … don’t fall asleep … keep your eyes open … look at me … What is your name?  Answered.  How old are you? 23 years old.  What’s your favorite movie? Answered.  Where is your purse/wallet? Answered.  Meggy told her that she would be her friend and help would be there soon.   The woman said she didn’t want to be alive and wanted to stop talking. 

A couple minutes passed.  Megan said the woman started to slump over but was still semi-conscious.  At that point, the police and emergency personnel arrived and they took over.

Megan was upset saying she was the last person the woman spoke to when she purchased the knife.  I said … no … no … As you were helping this woman, you were the last person she spoke to before the EMTs and police arrived.

Megan got a call from her boss late that night saying the woman was taken to a hospital and was alive … They had stopped the bleeding.  Her boss said "Megan, you helped save the woman’s life".

We told Megan God put her on a second shift that day for a reason.

Waynesburg University

This past week we headed to Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, PA.  An hour or so south of Pittsburgh, PA.  We drove 2 1/2 hours to CT on Monday night.  I worked on Tuesday while the family visited and said goodbye to Megan.  Wednesday morning we were up and on the road by 6:45AM.  8 hours and 7 minutes later we arrived in Waynesburg.  We checked into the hotel and had some dinner. 

On Thursday morning we dropped Megan off at school for orientation and testing Thursday morning.  Grandma E's maiden name was Bryan.  The Bryan family settled in the Dawson/Connellsville, PA area.  We went to Dawson, PA so I could take pictures of  the Bryan United Methodist Church and Bryan Cemetery named after them.

We met Megan for lunch at Waynesburg.  After lunch we moved Megan in to her room.  Her roommate, Katelyn, had moved in a few days earlier as she is playing volleyball and had practice that week.

On Friday Megan had more events to attend with an induction ceremony in the afternoon. 

I woke up before sunrise each morning and got Kevin up to go looking for deer on the back roads.  We would have gotten lost winding down the back roads without the GPS.  We also went out each evening until it was to dark.  Each time we went out we saw an average of 30 deer.  We pretty much saw deer every time we saw a big field.  At one point there was a fence along the dirt road with a doe on the far side and 3 fawns right next to us.  They ran along the fence as I followed trying to get a picture.  I didn't want to get to close in case they turned toward me so I wouldn't run them over.  No pics ... nuts.

When driving the dirt roads we came upon this crew laying pipe up a hill.  We watched for 30 minutes or so then had to head back to the college.

We started our trip back Friday afternoon.  We stopped at the Hampton Inn in Danville, PA off of I80 about half way back to CT.

I was up early Saturday morning to look for deer and drive to 2 covered bridges in the area.  Covered Bridges, a couple nice barns, but not one deer.  Hmm ...

We packed up and were back on the road by 9:30AM continuing to CT. 

Returned to NH on Sunday.



Several have asked us why Waynesburg University?  Megan was accepted to quite a few colleges with nursing programs.  After visiting many of them we determined Waynesburg had an excellent program with the best Sim (Simulation) Lab of any school being considered.  Most schools visited start clinicals junior year and Waynesburg started sophomore year.  We considered that a plus.

UPDATE ...

4 years later Megan graduated with her BSN.  ALL of the BSN nursing students that graduated with Megan PASSED their Nursing Boards.  (That statistic should be considered when looking at nursing programs).   

Megan works at an ANCC Magnet recognized hospital as an RN in the Cardiac/Med Surg unit. 

Kudos to the program at Waynesburg University.