Off-Duty VA Nurses Step In to Save a Life

Two Birmingham VA nurses stepped in to save a life during a Sunday morning church service, and their story says something about the people who care for veterans every day. At Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, a 93-year-old founding member of the congregation became unresponsive while Pastor Roy Peterson was delivering his sermon. Nurses Ann Woods and Theresa Turner, both attending as worshippers, went to her aid right away.

According to the Birmingham VA Health Care System, Woods assessed the woman and, unable to find a pulse, Turner began chest compressions. After one round with no pulse, Woods relieved Turner and continued. After the second round, they were able to detect a pulse, and the woman regained consciousness. When emergency medical personnel arrived, they found she had been sustained by the nurses' efforts. She was taken to a nearby medical facility for evaluation and is reported to be in good spirits.

The woman was not a patient or a veteran as far as the article says, so this is not a benefits change. It matters to veterans because Woods and Turner work within the VA health system that many disabled veterans rely on. The Birmingham VA Health Care System is part of VISN 2, the VA Southeast Health Network, one of the regional networks through which VA delivers care. Woods credited her experience as a registered nurse, together with quarterly Resuscitation Quality Improvement training offered through VA, for preparing her to recognize distress and respond effectively.

That detail is worth noting. The source does not describe the training beyond its name and quarterly schedule, so we cannot say more about its content. Still, it shows that VA clinical staff are expected to keep their emergency skills current on a regular basis, not just learn them once. For veterans receiving care at a VA medical center or clinic, that ongoing training is part of the safety net around them, whether in an exam room, a waiting area, or a hallway.

The story also had a ripple effect in the community. Pastor Peterson said that after learning about the nurses' training through Birmingham VA, the church was motivated to begin offering CPR certification classes so the congregation can be better prepared. No dates or class details were given in the source. Turner's message was direct: "Please learn CPR, and always be ready for the opportunity to save a life."

For disabled veterans, that advice has practical weight. Many of us live with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, or other issues that can raise the odds of a medical emergency, and many of our spouses, caregivers, and family members are the first people on the scene. Knowing CPR is not a VA benefit in itself, but it protects the household and the community around you. It also fits alongside the care you already receive, including regular checkups and managing chronic conditions with your VA care team.

Here is what you can do. Ask your local VA medical center, your VSO, or a community organization such as a church, veterans post, or civic group whether CPR classes are available near you, and encourage your spouse, caregivers, and adult family members to take one. If you have a health condition that worries you, bring it up with your VA primary care team and ask what an emergency plan should look like for your home. And if a VA nurse or other staff member has made a difference in your care, consider passing along a thank-you through your facility, since stories like this one remind us how much those moments can mean.