posted November 20, 2024

 Steph Suzadail is One of Eight Recognized at Nurse Appreciation Night

QUARTZSITE, AZ – November 20, 2024 – Air Methods Travel Flight Nurse Steph Suzadail was honored at the Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey League (NHL) home game on Nov. 19 as part of Nurse.org’s partnership with MLB, NBA, and NHL teams to recognize and appreciate nurses across the country for their unwavering commitment to the nursing profession. Suzadail was one of eight nurses selected for this honor through a nationwide nomination and voting process.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Nurse.org and to everyone who voted for me,” said Suzadail. “I can’t appreciate Air Methods enough for opportunities like this to be recognized.”

Honorees received game tickets and a prize pack and were recognized on the ice rink with a Zamboni ride and spotlight moment in front of cheering fans. A lifelong Penguins fan, Suzadail described this experience as unforgettable.

“I never anticipated being nominated let alone be awarded this honor,” said Suzadail. “It was a humbling experience and really awesome to share it with my best friend who was also in attendance.”

While Suzadail wasn’t notified of who specifically nominated her, it’s no surprise she received the opportunity to be recognized.

“We were thrilled for Steph to have this incredible opportunity,” said Air Methods Regional Vice President Jim Caryl. “Not only does she possess a strong work ethic, but her passion for what she does is truly inspiring.”

As a nurse for the past decade and a flight nurse with Air Methods for more than a year, Suzadail brings a wealth of experience to her role. Growing up in Harrisburg, PA, she began her career as a volunteer EMT at a local fire company as a teenager and was inspired to pursue nursing through family and personal experiences with healthcare.

“My mom has a fairly rare immune disorder that resulted in multiple hospitalizations over the years, and my father was a contractor who had multiple injuries that I helped tend to as a kid,” said Suzadail. “Additionally, I was flown as a patient after being treated for a stroke at 23 years old. Needless to say, things come full circle.” 

A leader in her field, Suzadail serves as the chair of the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) EMS Advisory Council, writes for the board exams, and was the 51^st person in the world to obtain all five Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) certifications. In fact, just last year Suzadail achieved the Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) certification during the beta test, making her one of the few that hold all six BCEN certifications.

“Steph is driven but remains humble,” said her anonymous nominator. “She truly represents the art of nursing, and her empathy and compassion are matched by her clinical proficiency and patient advocacy.”

Suzadail dedicates her world-class expertise to her home base in Quartzsite, AZ flying with the TriState CareFlight program. However, as a flight travel nurse, she fills critical care nursing needs across the country at Air Methods’ bases ensuring continuation of patient care services. Operating as a flying intensive care unit, Air Methods’ air medical teams provide support not only to first responders but to hospitals, providing the community critical care 24/7/365, responding to emergency medical and trauma events including heart attacks and strokes, burns, and other critical ailments and incidents.