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Davidson honored for patient commitment by Cindy Abole Public Relations Ask anyone to describe Bone and Joint, Dialysis and 7 West nurse manager Nancy Fuller Davidson and words like loyal, friendly, competent and caring easily come to mind.   A longtime staff nurse, Davidson’s passion and commitment to nursing and patient care is ceaseless.   One day in March, Davidson’s fervor for caring came to an unexpected test.      Nancy Davidson leads a practice council kickoff with seventh floor nurses and students. Davidson stepped off the main hospital’s North Tower elevator to meet a friend for lunch when she noticed a man struggling for breath. Almost instantly, she jumped into action circling her arms around the victim’s body from behind and thrusting her clenched fists in an a firm, upward motion below his ribcage. She continued performing the Heimlich Maneuver for several minutes until he was able to clear the item from his throat.   “I had no idea what was going on when I approached the scene,” said Cathy Rogers, R.N., Labor, Delivery and Antepartum clinical nurse IV and friend who was meeting Davidson. “One moment, I saw Nancy crouched over someone and suddenly she was up and performing the Heimlich.”   Throughout the ordeal, Davidson kept a calm, cool head. She stuck with what she was doing until she saw that the victim was safe and out of danger.   Moments later, the victim was recovering in a chair and thanking his rescuer for her help and quick response.   “What Nancy did is what any of us would have done at that moment,” Rogers said. “She reacted to a person in distress in a calm and competent manner. It’s just her nature to do that.”   Reaction to her heroics was just as glowing from her co-workers and friends.      “It did not surprise me when I heard that Nancy acted to help a visitor in distress,” Erica Rouvalis, Department of Therapeutic Service and Physical Therapy. “She is someone who does not hesitate to go the extra mile for patients and her staff. Her caring nature was exemplified in this act which saved this person’s life.”      A longtime Charleston resident, Davidson graduated from Garrett High School and earned her nursing degree from MUSC’s College of Nursing in 1977. She began her career at MUSC working as a rehab nurse in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She became a head nurse on the Rehab Unit prior to obtaining her master's degree in 1996. Her rapport with nurses, staff and leadership led her to become nurse manager in multiple patient care areas including dialysis, renal transplant and bone and joint/orthopaedics.   “Nancy is a seasoned nurse manager and a great role model for staff,” said June Darby, R.N.,  director of nursing, Department of Therapeutic Services. “She is a strong patient advocate. She has high expectations for herself and staff and will go the extra mile to help in any situation. I can always count on Nancy no matter what the task. I truly enjoy working with her.”   “I have known Nancy for 10 years,” said Nancy Black, R.N., Dialysis Unit. “She brought stability to the dialysis unit at a time when we were very disjointed. Nancy is an excellent nurse manager and my mentor. I have never worked for anyone as dedicated to staff and patients. MUSC is lucky to have her.”   “Nancy has the gift of knowing what to do paired with the commitment to do it,” said Terry Wilson, pastor and manager, Pastoral Care Services. “She is a prepared professional and a caring friend. She would never see herself as a hero but she was on that day in our hospital lobby. It is that calm assurance of seeing a need and knowing how to respond and address the need that makes her a respected leader in our MUSC community.” Editor’s note: At MUSC, heroes abound. They exist in the form of caregivers, faculty, students and staff. The Catalyst's MUSC Heroes is a column that offers employees and staff the opportunity to recognize MUSC's everyday heroes. Send an e-mail about your MUSC hero along with your name and office phone number to catalyst@musc.edu.     Friday, June 24, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.