Michelle Andrews
Nurse
Caring for others is nurse Michelle Andrews' life mission.
Michelle Andrews is the daughter of Jerry Doucette and the late RĂ©jeanne Doucette, two pillars of the Francophone community in the Prince West region. It is therefore hardly surprising that Michelle, a nurse at Western Hospital in Alberton since 2005, loves speaking French.
“I love having the opportunity to speak French. French is very important to me and in my family. My daughter goes to École Pierre-Chiasson, and at home, we speak French together,” said the dynamic and welcoming young woman.
These two qualities are among the strengths she brings to her work in the emergency department at Western Hospital. “I mostly work nights. I cover the emergency room shift with a paramedic in a collaborative emergency services model. We welcome people who come in on their own, and we have access to a doctor by phone if a case requires a physician's decision. I really enjoy this job. It requires a strong sense of responsibility, good communication skills to assess the situation, and the ability to quickly make the necessary decisions for the patients' well-being. You also have to be able to describe the situation as accurately as possible to the on-call doctor so they can recommend treatment, when necessary. Obviously, since I'm from this region, I know the people well, and that helps me know which language to use to ask questions,” the young woman explained.
It was during a night shift that a grandmother caring for her grandson decided to go to the Alberton emergency room when the child became ill. "I immediately understood that these people were Francophone, and I know that being able to speak French greatly relieved the grandmother," said Michelle Andrews. This grandmother, grateful for the quality service provided by the nurse, submitted her name for the Étoile Santé campaign.
As a teenager, Michelle admired her older brother, who was already a pilot. "I also wanted to become a pilot. But one day, one of my aunts, a sister of my mother, asked me if I had thought about becoming a nurse. She had seen me taking care of injured birds and small sick animals since childhood, and she understood, before I did, that I had it in me. I knew immediately that this would be my mission in life, and my work with people fulfills me," the young woman insisted.
In her work, Michelle Andrews performs a wide variety of tasks. “When you work in a small hospital, you have to expect to do a little bit of everything. You have to adapt quickly to all situations. I’m often called to the inpatient unit to lend a hand or if they need someone who can speak French. It’s always important to understand people well. It can make all the difference to a person’s health, and it’s very important to me that people receive good care. And besides, I really enjoy talking, especially speaking French,” said the nurse, who is very proud to be recognized as one of Prince Edward Island’s Health Stars.
"It is my mission in life to heal and care for people. It is a demanding career, but it has also taught me to take care of myself. It nourishes me and makes me happy," emphasized this Health Star who radiates contagious happiness.