Steven Hardesty

Steven Hardesty is a Flight Nurse and Base Manager with REACH in Ely, Nevada, whose clinical expertise, leadership, and calm decision-making have made an important impact both in the air and throughout his community.

Steven demonstrated exceptional clinical skill during an interfacility flight involving a patient in preterm labor who delivered a premature infant mid-flight. After safely delivering the newborn, Steven and his partner immediately faced the complex challenge of caring for both mother and baby in the confined and demanding environment of an aircraft.

While his partner cared for the newborn, Steven treated the mother and managed postpartum complications. At the same time, he helped coordinate an emergency diversion, ground transportation, and additional air resources to ensure seamless continued care for both patients. His ability to manage a rapidly evolving emergency while coordinating multiple resources was instrumental in achieving a successful outcome for both mother and newborn.

Steven’s leadership extends well beyond individual patient encounters. As the Ely Base Manager, he has worked to strengthen patient care throughout the community by building training partnerships with the local hospital and helping improve processes for stroke, ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and trauma response. His efforts have helped strengthen collaboration and preparedness across the local healthcare system.

Whether managing an extraordinary emergency in flight or developing partnerships on the ground, Steven demonstrates the clinical expertise, composure, and leadership essential to critical care transport. REACH is proud to recognize Flight Nurse and Base Manager Steven Hardesty as a Star of Life.