Scott and this hospital employee (Respiratory Therapist) worked together five consecutive shifts. Each day of the shift, Scott noticed she looked tired and was moving slower than usual, and he consistently asked if she was feeling okay, to which she would reply that she was.

At the end of the last shift of their five-day stretch, nursing staff also noticed the individual was not acting appropriately. Scott asked if he could complete a neurological analysis on her before she left which she complied with. As part of the standard analysis, the patient is asked to touch his/her nose with their finger. When she attempted this her movements were uncoordinated.

With this test confirming his concern regarding her wellbeing, he told her that she needed further evaluation. She was immediately taken to CT Scan and was found to have a mass in the brain with subsequent bleeding.

Immediate arrangements were made to move the patient to a neurosurgical center and the patient subsequently underwent brain surgery to remove the mass. Scott’s immediate ability to diagnose and the prompt facilitation of transfer for definitive care saved this patients life.