As West Coast University-Texas nursing student Avery P. headed to school one morning for an important exam, little did she know that fate had another test for her along the way.
As she rounded a corner and approached the intersection, Avery came upon a full-sized pickup truck flipped onto its roof, two occupants still inside and two children outside the vehicle. Without hesitation, Avery sprang into action, embodying the essence of her future profession.
“I saw this car upside down, and there were no police there, so I was like, well, I’m gonna get out,” Avery said.
Amidst the chaos, Avery’s nursing instincts kicked in. She rushed to aid the family, assessing the two young children while their parents worked to clear themselves from the wreck. Despite the harrowing scene, Avery remained composed, providing comfort and reassurance to the children and keeping the family’s two dogs off the road.
“The kids just had blood everywhere, their faces were just like covered in blood, and they were just like screaming and crying ‘Get them out of the car; get them out of the car,'” Avery shared. “I was just holding them… telling them we’re going to get your mom out.”
With the help of some joggers and other motorists, the parents were freed from the truck’s cab, and police eventually arrived to control traffic and figure out what had happened. Since she had not seen the crash, Avery helped clean up the children — who had only suffered superficial cuts and scrapes — and ensured the family’s pets were controlled before heading off to school.
“After it, I was a little shaken up for sure; my adrenaline was through the roof, and I was like, ‘What just happened?’ but then I had to go to class,” she said.
During the ordeal, Avery’s resilience and quick thinking did not go unnoticed. With the help of the responding officer via a very kind note from him to her instructor, Avery was granted the opportunity to retake — and pass — her test.
“He told me I shouldn’t have negative consequences for my actions, and I should be celebrated in that,” Avery expressed. “He said, ‘You picked a very honorable career path, and you should be very proud.’ I’m very grateful for all of that.”
As she navigates her final year at West Coast University, Avery remains open to her future possibilities. Whether it’s the fast-paced environment of the ER or the nurturing environment of pediatric care, Avery’s unwavering dedication to serving others remains steadfast.
“I work well under pressure, and so that is something I’m very definitely very interested in,” Avery said. “I’m excited for those rotations for sure.”
In the wake of the accident, Avery’s perspective on her role as a future nurse has been forever altered. With every patient encounter, she carries with her the lessons learned from that fateful morning — a reminder of the profound impact nurses can have on the lives of others.
“I honestly enjoyed it, I think. It was more of a thrill like, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s help these people’ — instead of ‘oh my, I’m so scared,'” she said. “Afterwards, reflecting on how I felt, it made me feel like I really did make the right career decision with how good I felt after, like how good it feels just to help people.”
WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.
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