For most newlyweds, the drive from the wedding reception is a blur of joy and excitement. But for Heather Ramsey, LPN, and her groom, Kylan S., it became a moment that underlined Heather’s quick thinking and deep-seated instinct to help others.

A night to remember

The music from their final dance was still fresh in their minds as the couple waved goodbye to family and friends, driving off into the night, excited about their future as a married couple. But as they drove toward their hotel, the scene ahead quickly shifted from celebratory to critical.

Traffic slowed to a crawl, and right in front of them was a car with its airbags deployed. A man was lying in the road, and another knelt beside him. Recognizing an emergency, Heather, still in her wedding dress, didn't hesitate to jump out of her car.

"I asked Kylan to pull over and got out of the car and rushed over to the scene because there weren't any police or EMS present," she said.

The kneeling man, she soon learned, was an off-duty firefighter. Without a second thought, her nursing instincts took over.

How Heather’s nursing skills saved a life

While Heather works as a multiple myeloma nurse, her nursing education prepared her for emergency moments just like this.

“You are taught to assess the scene for safety, check your patient for airway, breathing, circulation, call 911, look for signs of trauma,” she said. “I made sure that the scene was safe before I approached, especially because there were vehicles involved. That was my first thought.”

Once she confirmed the area was secure, her focus turned entirely to the injured man.

“When I reached the man lying on the ground, I wanted to make sure that he was breathing, had a clear airway and a pulse.”

The man was conscious, but his condition was unstable.

“He was awake and speaking to me although there were times where he went in and out of consciousness,” she said. “He had indications of trauma, and my focus was to keep him alive and talking until EMS arrived on scene to take over.”

In her wedding dress, on the side of a dark road, she became his lifeline.

A lifelong calling to help others

Heather had always known that her calling was to help others ever since she had needed help in infancy.

“I have always wanted to be involved in healthcare. I was a heart patient at 2 weeks old,” she said. “My passion for nursing comes from being a patient first. I understand a lot of the challenges that patients have. I use my own experience to understand their point of view and to help their process.”

This deep-seated empathy is what drives her every day and what brought her to Ochsner in the first place. She credits Ochsner for being the partnership she needed to make her career possible.

“Ochsner has been monumental in my education,” she said.

Ochsner has supported Heather's journey by enrolling her in the MA Now program, which prepares aspiring healthcare professionals to become medical assistants, and the MA to LPN program, which helps medical assistants advance their careers by becoming licensed practical nurses.

"I would not be able to be a nurse without the support of Ochsner. I appreciate the investment that Ochsner has made in me,” she said.

Ochsner Health is committed to investing in our people, providing pathways for growth and education that empower them to provide exceptional care. Our teams are equipped with the skills and confidence to act decisively, whether inside our facilities or at the scene of an unexpected emergency.

Compassion as the heart of healthcare

When the man was safely in the care of emergency responders, the bride could finally step back and reflect. Instead of focusing on her heroic actions, she views it as a simple act of human kindness.

“I would hope that anyone would pull over and help someone in need,” she said. “We are all human and in need of kindness. You may be the defining difference in someone's life. I would not change a thing about that night.”

Heather’s story is a reminder that compassion is at the heart of healthcare. It is a quality she encourages in anyone considering the profession.

“Get into this role because you have a passion for helping others but also to listen and understand them,” she said. “Medicine is about empathy, compassion and love.”

This event reinforced a lesson she learned throughout her career.

“The biggest lesson that I have learned is that patients will teach you more about life, strength and hope than you'd have thought you would give them. They are a blessing, and it is my honor to be their nurse.”

The man made a full recovery due to Heather’s quick thinking and reached out to her to thank her.

If you are as passionate about helping others as Heather is and are considering a career in nursing, please visit: https://www.ochsner.org/ochsnerscholars/