CORVALLIS, Ore. – Kendra De Hoog started her collegiate career as a volleyball player at Blue Mountain Community College. She transferred to Eastern Oregon University to play for the Mountaineers as a junior and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physical activity and health, with a focus on health and wellness.
When her playing days were over, De Hoog went back to Blue Mountain to get her Associate of Science in Nursing and then got her second bachelor’s degree (nursing) from the Oregon Health and Science University in 2019.
Less than a year later, she’s helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic as an emergency department (ED) nurse at the St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton, Ore.
“Being new to the nursing profession and working as an ED nurse during a pandemic, I have learned the importance of adapting to change,” said De Hoog. “I am thankful to have co-workers I can look up to for questions and guidance along the way.”
As part of her job, De Hoog sees patients first to screen them for tests and see where they are needed to go to get the best care.
“I work in the emergency department of a rural community hospital,” said De Hoog. “We see and treat a variety of patients with various health concerns, injuries, or diseases. In the ER, we run a wide variety of screening tests, including lab work and imaging. As we are a critical access hospital, we stabilize patients in our ER and either admit them to our hospital or transfer them to a larger facility with specialty services.”
Emergency departments have become crowded due to the pandemic, but De Hoog has seen some positives coming from the coronavirus, especially with those working the front lines together.
“As a department and as a hospital, I feel we have developed a stronger bond with one another,” said De Hoog. “This pandemic has taught us ways to effectively communicate with each other and work together to keep a healthy and fluent work environment. We are working together as a whole, to keep each other our community healthy.”
De Hoog is no stranger to working together on a team after helping EOU win back-to-back Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season titles, including the Mountaineers’ first-ever outright championship her senior year.
“I do think participating as a student-athlete has prepared me for my current job,” said De Hoog. “Playing volleyball taught me multiple qualities that are essential to my job as an RN. Two qualities that stick out to me are teamwork and working under pressure. Being in the Emergency Room, you never know what will come through the door. Having confidence in those you work with and wanting to learn and receive feedback are qualities athletics have taught me.”
De Hoog also believes teamwork can go a long way, even outside the healthcare profession, during this pandemic.
“Be patient with one other as we are all learning and working through this together,” said De Hoog. “Stay positive and be there for others.”