Seven students from Olivet’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies and their professor, Debra Chudzik, D.N.P., RN, worked as medical volunteers for the IRONMAN® 2018 World Championship. The triathlon took place in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Oct. 13, 2018.
Olivet students worked in the medical tent, a highly sought-after area not usually open to students. They worked the 4 to 10 p.m. shift — the busiest shift of the day — as part of ICU, triage, emergency medicine and IV teams. The medical tent serviced an estimated 30 percent of the more than 2,400 athletes who competed that day.
One Olivet student, an EMT, started more than 30 IVs during the shift and received praise from the physicians on duty. Other students assisted in an emergency laceration repair and cared for several athletes with severe hyperthermia, hyponatremia, post-water rescue care, cardiology concerns, dehydration issues, severe muscular spasms and hyperemesis.
“As an educator, I am excited that these future clinicians experienced this environment of elite endurance athletes and world-class medical professionals,” Dr. Chudzik says. “I received very positive feedback from the physicians about our students.”
Dr. Chudzik has served as a medical volunteer with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for several years. Her nursing doctorate practicum was with the Director of Sports Medicine at the University of Chicago. “I must admit that the IRONMAN World Championship is in a league of its own,” she says. “I sincerely hope this opportunity happens again for our students.”
To learn more about the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs at Olivet, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@olivet.edu or 800-648-1463.
Photos submitted by students and used with permission.
Published: 11/30/2018
