Beaumont nurse/educator honored for going above and beyond

ER educator stood tall during tough year for medical professionals

Beaumont Health Registered Nurse Carter Doyle saves lives and teaches others how to save lives in the most pressured-packed space in any hospital: the emergency room.

This dynamic dual role has been especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic when challenges mount daily for healthcare heroes, many of whom are new to the profession.

Doyle’s efforts were recognized by Beaumont Health, which honored 13 individuals and one team of nurses during its 3rd Annual Nursing Excellence Awards ceremony, which was held virtually Aug. 18.

Doyle, a nursing professional development specialist in the health system’s Taylor hospital, was one of close to 550 nurses nominated for the excellence awards.

“I’m honored and humbled to receive this award because I know how many of my colleagues are deserving of a recognition like this,” said Doyle, who moved his residence from Ann Arbor to Canton in July. “I’m inspired every day by the compassion and quality of care I see Beaumont nurses providing their patients.

“I always try to do the best I can for the patients and the new nurses I’m educating.”

Doyle said his official title can be condensed into one word: educator. A healthcare professional since 2012 when he started working as a paramedic, he mentors new emergency room nurses once they complete the health system’s orientation process.

“It’s an exciting job, especially these days as we have more new nurses joining the profession than in the recent past,” Doyle said. “It’s my job to stay on top of all the procedural changes that are happening and then passing what I learn on to the emergency room nurses — both new and veteran ones.

“The best way to put out fires, in my estimation, is with education. The more we’re educated, the better the outcome for our patients.”

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Doyle said he was inspired to pursue a healthcare-relate field by elementary school’s nurse and one of his football coaches who was a trauma surgeon.

“To say the past couple of years have been difficult for this profession would be an understatement,” said Doyle. “But, like I said, I’m inspired by the people I work side-by-side every day.”

Speaking from the healthcare front lines, Doyle emphasized people should not get complacent when it comes to the ongoing pandemic.

“I don’t think people understand the gravity of the recent waves (of COVID-19 infections) and how sick people are getting,” he said. “I see it every day and it’s still a real concern.”

Trenton ER nurses earn award

The nursing team award was presented to a contingent led by RN Bill Sweet at the health system’s Trenton emergency center.

Sweet said he still gets choked up when he talks about the “thank you” sign they received from the son of a 2020 heart attack patient whose life was saved, due in large part, to their efforts.

“At 7-years-old, this boy was a phonetic speller,” said Sweet, director for the Emergency Center nursing team at Beaumont Hospital, Trenton. “His youth and vulnerabilities are all right there. And, so is his heart. He made time to tell us how much his father and our efforts meant to him. On difficult days, it’s a special reminder of why we do what we do.”