CORVALLIS, Ore. – When Michelle Perez enrolled into Gonzaga’s Family Nurse Practitioner program, she had no idea halfway through the program she would be battling a pandemic.
The former Northwest University track and field athlete is an Emergency Department Nurse in Tri-Cities, Wash., testing patients who come into the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms to see if they need to be admitted to the hospital.
As an Emergency Department nurse, Perez has experienced firsthand the toll COVID-19 has taken on the healthcare system.
“Many of my coworkers have been infected with COVID-19, meaning we are short staffed, with many very sick patients coming through our doors,” said Perez. “Being in a high-risk profession has forced me to be serious about social distancing from high-risk friends and family members.”
While Perez is serious about social distancing, she also sees the positive that COVID-19 has brought, especially during the lockdowns.
“Families are spending more time together,” said Perez. “I believe people are also finding more value in their relationships, and being more intentional with them.”
Perez still holds the NU program record in the long jump with a mark of 17-8.75 (5.40m) and was named to the All-Cascade Collegiate Conference team her senior year. She will graduate from Gonzaga in 2022 and feels her time as an Eagle helped prepare her for the craziness the Emergency Department can bring.
“Being a student-athlete helped prepare me for my job as a nurse by teaching me prioritization amidst a hectic schedule in college,” said Perez. “It also taught me that hard work does not go unnoticed, whether it’s around your teammates or your coworkers.”
Perez’s hard work fighting the coronavirus has definitely not gone unnoticed, but she also knows it takes a toll on those working the frontlines.
“Though some of the initial heat of the pandemic has worn off, healthcare workers are still in the thick of it, with case numbers rising daily,” said Perez. “Don’t forget to check in with your friends who are healthcare workers or essential workers. A simple, ‘how are you doing?’ can go a long way right now.”