Recent grad saves patient's life after suspected overdose

Thanks to some quick thinking, a recent BSN graduate saved the life of a patient suspected of overdosing at a metro Detroit hospital.

Marco Muñoz, BSN ’24, was working in the intensive care unit at the hospital in December when he was summoned to the step-down unit to tend to a patient who had fallen. Upon arrival, Muñoz noticed the patient was turning bluish-purple and in respiratory arrest, sandwiched on the floor between the toilet and bathroom wall.

The patient was prepared to be discharged, and his IVs had been removed, which raised red flags for Muñoz.

“He appeared to have been in the bathroom for quite some time, as the sink was overflowing and the floor was flooded about an inch deep,” Muñoz said. “As he was originally admitted for an overdose, the suspicion was another overdose. He had recently had visitors as well, causing more suspicion.”

Hospital staff scrambled for Narcan, a medicine commonly used to reverse an opioid overdose, but could only find an intravenous-administered version, which was not useful given the patient was not connected to any IV.

That’s where Muñoz stepped in.

“Last year during a nursing lecture, we had a guest speaker come and talk to us about the importance of carrying Narcan around, along with how and when to use it. She gave each student two nasal Narcan.

“I ran to my locker and grabbed the nasal Narcan. I told the resident I had it, and we gave him the first dose while he was still down in the bathroom. After a few seconds, he began to awaken slightly, and we got him back in bed. Another minute or so went by, and I administered the second spray. In a few seconds, he was fully alert and breathing again.”

Staff asked why Muñoz had Narcan in his backpack.

“I explained how MSU CON supplied each student with two sprays,” he said. “They were impressed and very thankful. I guess I was just in the right place at the right time.”

College of Nursing Instructor Makzenzie Misane said she encourages her students to carry Narcan for situations like the one Munoz found himself in.

“Bystanders can intervene within moments of an overdose,” said Misane, who noted stories like these are why she chose to work in higher ed. “We carry Narcan to have the opportunity to save the life of a patient, a brother or sister, or a friend. It gives the individual another chance at sobriety, another chance at growing old, and the experience of someone demonstrating that their life is valuable.”

Published Jan. 22, 2025