Eighteen months ago, I wrote about my experiences being a COVID-19 ICU nurse during the height of the pandemic, while also training as a member of the USA Rugby Women’s National Team. I focused on the connection between nursing and rugby by discussing the importance of the backline of defense in both the hospital setting and on the pitch.

Much of what I wrote there was driven home for me in a new way one day last fall at a local rugby field in New Jersey. It was a beautiful fall day and I was spending my last weekend home watching my brother’s playoff game before I would be heading to Colorado for a set of international rugby games with Team USA.

Credit: KJ Feury.

It was a typical men’s club division 2 playoff game, where the score was back and forth, and big plays were being created by both teams. It was nearing the end of the game when the away team had a scrum in their half of the field. Their #12, a player who had been making big hits and runs all game, made the decision to kick the ball out of their half to relieve pressure and reset play.

After the rugby ball was released from his foot, the 28-year-old inside center dropped to his knees, appearing to be out of breath. A few of his teammates walked over to make sure he was okay and get him some water. Suddenly, panic arose.

“We need a medic! Hurry! This is serious!” a Monmouth rugby player shouted. The athletic trainer ran out, assessed the player, rolled him onto his back, and began chest compressions. He was suffering from what we now know was a massive heart attack.

Two worlds collide.

As a registered nurse in a pediatric ICU, I am no stranger to cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Nor am I a stranger to being pitch side on a Saturday afternoon. But the moment I saw the athletic trainer’s arms pumping up and down, I knew the two worlds of nursing and rugby were about to collide.

“Mom, they’re doing compressions, we have to go,” I yelled to my mother, who is a nurse practitioner with over 40 years of nursing experience in the trauma department at Morristown Medical Center.

“I’m a nurse.” “I’m a nurse practitioner.” “I’m an athletic trainer.” “I’m a police officer.” “I’m a corrections officer.”

In the blink of an eye, our code team was assembled from both fans and players who had emergency medical training.

“Get the AED!” “Cut his shirt!” “Tilt his head!” “Switch compressors!” “2 breaths!” “CLEAR!” “No shock advised.” “Continue Compressions”.

Everyone plays their part.

Fans rushed to the parking lot to clear cars to create a path for the ambulance. Players ran to the main road to wave down the ambulance when it arrived. Coaches circled their players in prayer. A Morris rugby women’s player embraced #12’s wife and child, assuring them their husband and father was receiving the best care he could.

At the time, I knew nothing that was going on in the background. Rate, depth, and chest recoil was my job and only focus.

The frontline care team provided high quality CPR as if they had been working together for years. The backline care team managed the scene and emergency response as if they had been in this situation before. The front line, the back line, and every individual on the rugby pitch that sunny October day were unlikely heroes who unified to save a life that was gone for over 28 minutes.

So is there anything nursing can learn from rugby?

The right skill set with the right communication makes a seamless team.

Every role matters: the front line, the back line, and every hero in between.

And nursing can learn that an unlikely team of heroes can come together to save a life, even on the rugby pitch.

Tess Feury, BSN, RN, is a pediatric ICU nurse, currently pursing her master’s degree at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, with the goal of becoming a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner. Also a member of the USA Women’s National Rugby Team, she will represent the USA at the 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup later this year.