Registered nurse is a life saver -- three times over

Patricia Benson just wanted to say thank you in a special way. That's how an in-house celebration Wednesday to honor Daniel McCarthy on National Nurses Day got rolling.

McCarthy, a registered nurse at the Daleview Care Center, received a plaque, some applause, and Benson's appreciation in a gathering at the Farmingdale assisted living facility.

Three times between December and January, McCarthy, of West Babylon, revived Benson, once using the Heimlich maneuver and twice administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said Mary Kochaniwsky, the facility's administrator.

"We thought we were going to lose her and Daniel brought her back," Kochaniwsky said.

Benson, 78, a resident at the facility for about eight years, thought that staff members and other residents should know how much she appreciated McCarthy's care. She also presented him with a plaque that reads: "Thank you for saving my life."

Benson had developed pneumonia during the winter and was hospitalized after the second CPR, Kochaniwsky said.

The celebration Wednesday was on National Nurses Day, as observed on May 6 since 1990; this week also is National Nurses Week, also observed nationally and recognized by the American Nurses Association, a Maryland-based professional organization.

Kochaniwsky said the dates were picked to also recognize certificates of appreciation given to two other staff members -- registered nurse Nancy Ciaffone, of Selden, Daleview's director of nursing; and license practical nurse Kathleen Kennedy, of Amityville.

Each was nominated for nurse of the year as awarded by the New York State Health Facilities Association, Kochaniwsky said

Also, the facility, which has 142 residents, including 56 beds for rehabilitation patients, recently received a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.