First Responders Surprise Nursing Graduate with Award at Pinning Ceremony
Every Nursing Pinning Ceremony is a special event. Held for each Nursing cohort, these graduation events celebrate the culmination of one of the most challenging educational experiences offered at TCC – or anywhere else, for that matter. But the Summer 2023 pinning ceremony was even more special than most, because it included the surprise presentation of an award for Nursing student Alicia Posey from Joint Base Lewis McChord Army Civilian Police Officer Sergeant James R. Miller, the first responder who arrived at the scene of a head-on collision where Posey was rendering aid. Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Jillian Edwards read the letter Miller sent to President Harrell:
“I am a Department of the Army Civilian Police Officer for Joint Base Lewis McChord. Today at 2:30 p.m. I responded to the vicinity of 8th Avenue South and Rice Kandle Rd for a vehicle collision with injuries. When I arrived I observed a female in scrubs, later identified as Ms. Alicia Posey, wearing a Tacoma Community College Nursing badge. She was providing immediate aide to two separate individuals who sustained serious injuries resulting from a head on collision. One was a elderly female who sustained a concussion and unknown C Spine injuries. The other was a young male who’s hand broke on the front windshield. He also suffered a laceration that required a pressure dressing to stem the flow of blood. Ms. Posey cut strips from her sweat shirt to make this pressure dressing. She kept the elderly patient awake and alert, not letting her extract herself from the vehicle. Through the entirety of this incident she kept her composure and was not overwhelmed with the destruction that occurred. I cannot express enough my gratitude for her selfless service to the community. Had it not been for her unhesitating actions the health of those involved would have deteriorated rapidly. She stabilized those patients while EMS was enroute unaided by bystanders. When EMS arrived she checked back in with me asking if it was ok to leave or if she was still needed. She absolutely is an outstanding representative to your Nursing program and those that instruct it. Thank you!”
While presenting his award, Miller added that, in his opinion, the person more seriously injured in the accident would not have survived if Posey hadn’t intervened.
“What is not stated here is, had you not stabilized that 70-year-old woman, she would have deceased,” Miller said. “Everything you did, she’s still alive today.”
Edwards also presented Posey with the Nursing Department’s first Nightingale Award. From this time forward, it will be awarded to nursing students “for going above and beyond with compassion and bravery.”