Raiders On The Front Lines: Chelsey Hussey '17
Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director
NASHUA, N.H. – “Raiders on the Front Lines” is a collection of stories detailing how our Raiders are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. These stories are first-hand journal entries from our current or former student-athletes that are working in the hospitals across the country.
Today we are highlighting former Women’s Volleyball student-athlete, Chelsey Hussey ‘17. She was a four-year member of the women’s volleyball program, where she earned four consecutive selections to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship team and captured two GNAC Championships. Chelsey played in 116 matches (328 sets) throughout her career, collecting 477 kills and 867 total blocks for the Raiders. Over that span, she also scooped up 207 digs and 32 service aces.
Chelsey is currently working as a RN in the Emergency Department, Level 1 Trauma Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She was just recently featured on John Kransinski's "Some Good News" as one of the COVID Unit nurses from Beth Isreal that got to visit Fenway Park.
In her own words:
“Growing up playing competitive athletics, I always knew who my opponent was. I knew what their tendencies were, their weaknesses, and their strengths. As I got older, I realized that it was less about my opponent than it was about my preparedness for whatever could lie ahead.
As an ED nurse, I am now accustomed to organized chaos. My coworkers and I are used to hearing the EMS radio go off and not knowing what or who might roll through the doors.
COVID-19 has created a shock-wave through the medical field that is terrifying and, at times, almost impossibly challenging. It’s hard to say if anyone could have been truly prepared for this. It’s hard to battle something that you cannot even see with your own eyes.
Supplies running short means that we have to conserve everything as we prepare for the worst. It’s a humbling time to be in the medical field. We don’t have enough personal protective equipment. We have even less time to eat, are too anxiety-ridden to sleep, and will work longer hours in the coming weeks than we ever thought we would. We could all sit here, complain, and be angry about the circumstances. Or we could work together to fight the enemy that none of us can see. In my experience, everything works better when you do it as a unit.
The best thing about working in the ED at the Beth Israel is the team-like atmosphere. In times of adversity, we stand strong, proving that we are better together than we would ever be alone. I am proud to be able to work alongside some of the most amazing medical professionals.
As healthcare workers, we are also keeping social distance from our families, friends, and loved ones. Our colleagues are getting sick too. So when you get frustrated about having to sit at home away from all of your friends, remember what the alternative could be.
Be smart and safe, please.
The support from the community has been overwhelming and I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my corner, supporting me, helping to feed our staff during our long shifts, and sending care packages to help make the days a little easier.
We’re staying at work for you, so please stay home for us. “
