Nursing student uses lifesaving lessons to help save a life on way to class

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A nurse in training found herself responding to a call that likely saved a man’s life.

It happened just before the holidays when the student spotted a man down in the middle of the street fighting for his life.

That student jumped in to help, and she is sharing her story.

For as long as she could remember, Lesly Arroyo-Pena has wanted to become a nurse.

“Whenever I went to the hospital, mostly to see my siblings when they were born, it was always very good memories,” she said. “The nurses were always nice. Very pleasant, very happy.”

She planned to spread that same happiness once she graduates from Galen College of Nursing in St. Pete. But just before the holidays, she got put to the test on her way back to her clinical assignment.

“When I looked over to my left, there was a man in the middle of the road. He happened to just be laying there really still,” she said. “There was another guy who got out of his vehicle and checked on him first and he also seemed kind of panicked.”

Arroyo-Pena said she knew she couldn’t panic. So, she did what she was trained to do.

“I ran across the street, checked on the man. And the first thing I checked to see if he still had a pulse, if he was still breathing, which he did, but it was like very, he was unconscious, he couldn’t even tell me what his name was,” she said.

In a split second, she said she saw his symptoms and his proximity to a nearby clinic that helps those with drug addiction and quickly realized what she needed to do.

“I ran back to my car, got the Narcan and hoped for the best and it did work,” she said.

After a few minutes, she said the man was taken to the hospital, and thanks to her training and the Narcan, she had just gotten from her clinical that day, she was able to save a life.

It’s the kind of outcome Galen College of Nursing St. Pete Dean, Dr. Kristen Wessel, said they’re preparing students for.

“Compassion is absolutely what Leslie demonstrated that day.” Wessel said. “When others could’ve passed on by and left someone laying in the street. But she knew that even though she isn’t finished with school, she still had the capability to help.”

Arroyo-Pena said she learned a valuable lesson.

“I’ve felt like always kind of been very reserved and shy, but after this incident it’s made me realize, if it comes to saving someone’s life, I’m willing to set that aside and step out of my comfort zone,” she said.

Good news for the community she will serve one day.