Melissa P茅rez, M.S. 鈥�12, RN, WHNP-51茶馆, has spent the last three and a half years working as a labor and delivery nurse in an eight-bed unit for high-risk pregnancies at Boston Medical Center (BMC). Among her patients are women who are addicted to drugs or inmates from area prisons, a population with which she is grateful to work. 鈥淵ou are taking care of people who will hang on your every word and appreciate the education and the resources. It鈥檚 nursing as an art and science,鈥� says P茅rez.
After earning her nursing degree at Villanova University in 2009, P茅rez continued her education at Boston College, receiving her master鈥檚 degree in nursing in 2012, specializing in women鈥檚 health. She taught maternal and child health at the Connell School on a part-time basis in the 2012鈥�13 school year, and now returns as a clinical instructor in that field. Besides giving classroom lectures, P茅rez will oversee six to eight students as they train at BMC and other area hospitals. 鈥淚 am really going to miss my patients,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut they鈥檒l still be with me through my students.鈥� P茅rez has done extensive volunteer work in the United States and abroad, and dreams of leading a group of Boston College students on a relief mission to Central America.
鈥擳imothy Gower, photograph by Caitlin Cunningham
听
听
听
听
听
听
听