Student-turned-teaching-assistant leads the way for aspiring nurses
By Matthew Merchant
When Tanner Purnhagen (CWR ’15) takes to the skies as a flight nurse, he carries more than just medical equipment; he brings a profound commitment to easing the fears of patients while they’re suffering a healthcare emergency—a dedication forged through years of intensive training and personal passion.
Purnhagen is a dual Master of Science in Nursing/Doctor of Nursing Practice student in Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing’s acute care nurse practitioner program with a flight specialty. With a focus on mechanical ventilation in critical care transport, he blends his expertise with compassion to ensure patients are well cared for on their way to the hospital.
“For me, the best part of being a nurse is helping someone during one of their worst moments,” he said. “Nobody wakes up planning to be taken to the hospital by helicopter, and I hope that during that trip I can provide some comfort or relief.”
Born and raised in Fairfax County, Virginia, Purnhagen was introduced to the world of flight nursing in high school by his mentor, who works in the field. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from ǿմý, he swiftly immersed himself in the world of critical care—eventually joining The MetroHealth System's Metro Life Flight as a flight nurse specialist. He's also now a graduate teaching assistant in the nursing school's Dorothy Ebersbach Academic Center for Flight Nursing, where he's inspiring future generations of flight nurses, like his mentor once did for him.
And with more than 1,000 patient transports under his belt, Purnhagen’s devotion to the nursing profession lies in being a beacon of hope during one of the darkest hours of people’s lives.
“The School of Nursing is leading the way in promoting and educating the next generation of advanced practice providers in critical care transport,” he said. “With access to state-of-the-art equipment like our helicopter and ambulance simulators, our students are well prepared for the real world of critical care nursing.”
Throughout his journey, Purnhagen has learned about more than just critical care.
“The biggest lesson I have learned while working in critical care is to enjoy the time you have with family and friends. Trauma is often sudden and unpredictable, and can affect anyone at any time,” he said. “You never know how much time you have left.”
This article appears in the print edition of Forefront magazine, summer 2024. Find more stories from Forefront at case.edu/nursing/news-events/forefront-magazine.