Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalay Williams.
Hi Shalay, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a nurse with 17 years of experience, I have always been passionate about bedside care.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I responded to a cardiac arrest involving a suspected COVID-19 patient. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the patient did not survive. The experience was heartbreaking and left me questioning my future in nursing.
After the incident, I cried for 45 minutes. I was devastated by the outcome, and for the first time in my healthcare career, I questioned whether I wanted to continue in the profession. Shortly afterward, I tested positive for COVID-19 myself. While in quarantine, I found myself asking difficult questions: Would I go back to work? Could I continue working in this profession and in this environment?
During that time of reflection, I realized there was a critical need for more CPR education and training in our communities. The answer suddenly became clear. I had identified a problem that I simply could not ignore. I was needed now more than ever to be part of the solution.
That realization led me to become a Certified American Heart Association CPR Instructor and ultimately inspired the creation of Care Heart CPR.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it has not been a smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs, I have faced challenges that tested both my resilience and commitment to my mission.
One of the biggest setbacks occurred in August 2022 when there was an gas explosion at the Mon Valley Launch Box, in which Care Heart CPR was based. As a result, I lost all of my CPR training equipment and supplies. At the time, my business was still in its early stages, and replacing everything was both financially and emotionally difficult.
In addition to rebuilding after that loss, I balanced growing Care Heart CPR while working full-time as a nurse, raising my children, and navigating the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those experiences taught me perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of community support. Looking back, the obstacles did not stop my growth, they helped shape the entrepreneur I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Care Heart CPR is a nurse owned and operated Authorized American Heart Association Training Site who serves the Greater Pittsburgh region and surrounding communities. We specialize in CPR, AED, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric First Aid, Pediatric CPR/AED, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) training, helping communities become better equipped to save lives when every second counts.
What sets us apart is that our instructors are healthcare professionals with real world emergency and bedside experience. We don’t just teach from a textbook, we bring practical knowledge, personal experiences, and a passion for helping others feel confident in an emergency.
Since launching in 2021, Care Heart CPR has trained throughout the region and earned more than 450 five-star Google reviews. We are known for providing engaging, supportive, and high-quality training.
What I am most proud of is the impact our company has made in the community. Our mission extends beyond issuing certification cards; we are dedicated to expanding access to lifesaving education through community outreach, youth programs, and partnerships with local organizations. Every class we teach is an opportunity to empower someone with the confidence and skills to save a life.
At Care Heart CPR, we believe that every heart deserves a second chance.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Just get started. I launched Care Heart CPR with a vision and a willingness to learn as I went. There will never be a perfect time, perfect plan, or perfect set of circumstances. Growth happens through action.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.careheartcpr.com
- Facebook: Care Heart CPR
- Other: TikTok: Care Heart CPR
