Andrews takes flight

Most everyone is familiar with the phrase ‘the sky’s the limit.’

Though, only few, adhere to the idiom.

Ivey Andrews, a recent 2018 graduate of Stephens County High School, and Emergency Room Department employee at Stephens County Hospital, is one of the few.

Ivey recently took to the sky to get a taste for the career she hopes to pursue.

Ivey told WNEG News on Thursday morning about how she sought an opportunity through a day at work.

“I just happened to be at work one night; and, one of our patients were getting airlifted and the aircrew had come in there to wait, because the pilot had to go and get more gas. So they just hung out with us,” Ivey said. “I was following them around like a little puppy dog. I was just so excited, ‘cause I couldn’t believe they were actual there. Then he asked me if I was interested in being a flight nurse, and I was like ‘yeah,’ I can’t believe it happened like that. I was so stoked.”

After exchanging contact information, Ivey quickly began exchanging emails with the flight nurse; which, quickly led Ivey to setting up a day to shadow a Medivac flight crew.

Christy Andrews is Ivey’s mother, and a nurse at Stephens County Hospital, she told WNEG News about her role in Ivey’s flight.

“All of this was a huge surprise to me. She did this all on her own,” Christy said. “It was sort of funny cause when she told me what she was doing, I said ‘okay, so do I need to sign some consents or something?’ and she said ‘um, no mom, I’m 18 I don’t need you for this. It kind of hurt a little bit.”

Christy added that she has always told her children that the sky’s the limit.

Tabitha Smith is the CNA teacher at the high school.

Ivey credited Smith for her interest in nursing.

Smith told WNEG News about some of Ivey’s accomplishments as a student.

“She has always loved emergency medicine and she has competed the last three years in HOSA in EMT skills where she’s went to State every time,” Smith said.

“She’s always talked about wanting to be a flight nurse and a trauma nurse. And following in her mom’s footsteps. She (Ivey) arranged this, and she will soon be going off to college to pursue her dream. We’re just so proud of her.”

Stephens County Hospital’s PR and Marketing Director Samantha Rickman told WNEG News that she hopes Ivey’s initiative will inspire other students to seek out opportunities where they find interest.

“We are really proud of Ivey, she has taken the initiative to set this day up and to further her education,” Rickman said. “We are also excited to have the HOSA program heavily involved with the hospital, and we love seeing these CNAs come through and really growing our healthcare community.”

Ivey had a crowd of supporters to come out and see her off for her first day of shadowing.