Sarah Diamond walked into Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) on Feb. 15 expecting a routine day of clinical rotations. Instead, the third-year nursing student found herself in a life-or-death situation, proving that nurses must always be ready for the unexpected.
Diamond, who spends every Saturday on the hospital’s medical-surgical unit, had been wrapping up a quiet morning. With her assigned patient comfortable and family members visiting, she was preparing to head to lunch with her clinical group.
Then, chaos erupted.
A distinct, sharp coughing sound cut through the hospital hallway. Instantly alert, Diamond turned her head toward a nearby patient room. What she saw sent her into action.
A tall, elderly man – later identified as a visitor – stood clutching his throat, eyes wide with panic. At 6 feet 2 inches, he towered over Diamond’s 5-foot-2-inch frame, but there was no time to hesitate.
She asked if he was choking so she could confirm her suspicions. Once he nodded, she moved.
Instinct took over. Diamond positioned herself behind him, wrapped her arms around his abdomen, and performed the Heimlich Maneuver. The height difference proved a challenge, but after several forceful thrusts, the obstruction dislodged.
“I literally just kept hitting his stomach until I knew that it was out,” she said. “I definitely did it a few extra times to make sure his throat was clear.”
As the piece of food finally expelled from his throat – landing, to Diamond’s surprise, directly into her hand – the man gasped for breath. The crisis was over.
Though outwardly calm, she admitted she had been terrified.
“I was so scared. I was terrified that I wasn’t going to be able to get it out,” she said. “I knew what I needed to do, but I was scared that I wasn’t going to be doing the right thing.”
The man, a visitor at the hospital to see his wife, was overcome with gratitude. Though privacy laws prevent Diamond from sharing his name, his reaction spoke volumes.
GBMC staff took notice, too. Nurses and hospital administrators quickly reached out to Stevenson’s nursing program to praise Diamond’s quick thinking.
Rachel Farbman, Stevenson’s director of clinical education and a clinical assistant professor, couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s scary to do something like that,” Farbman said. “The fact that she did it just because she knew that’s what needed to happen says a lot about her as a person and a nurse.”
Farbman highlighted Diamond’s critical thinking, assessment skills, and rapid decision making – traits that can’t be taught in a classroom but define what it means to be a nurse.
For Stevenson’s nursing program, Diamond’s heroic moment was more than just a success story. It was a testament to the power of hands-on learning.
“It really shows what we’re doing is making a difference,” said Farbman. “It’s giving them those skills they need to function as a nurse.”
Looking back, Diamond knows this experience will stick with her forever.
“It really taught me how to take action during emergencies,” she said. “Also, I now know the importance of staying calm under pressure.”
