Noel Olson, BSN, RN, a Vanderbilt adult emergency department nurse, had just come off a 12-hour shift and made her way to the airport to catch a plane to Denver. She was looking forward to a nap during the flight.
Soon she was attending to more important matters. The Southwest flight had gotten underway and the plane was at more than 10,000 feet when an announcement came over the cabin speakers: “Are there any medical professionals on board?”