NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2020
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A11
Hermiston local Jadie Wick honored in governor’s commencement address
By NADA SEWIDAN
STAFF WRITER
Jadie Wick of Hermiston, a reg-
istered nurse on the front lines of
the COVID-19 battle and soon-
to-be nurse practitioner, was Gov.
Kate Brown’s honoree for the
statewide virtual commencement
on Sunday, June 14.
The commencement address,
titled “Celebrating the Class of
2020,” highlighted Wick and the
work she’s done for her community
during the global pandemic.
“The Governor felt it was
important to highlight inspiring
stories from all across the state, cel-
ebrating the work of Oregon gradu-
ates who showed grit, resolve, and
determination during this global
pandemic,” said Nikki Fisher, press
secretary and public engagement
advisor for Brown. “Jadie’s story is
a great example of how hardwork-
ing students from across the state,
and in rural Oregon, are contribut-
ing to build a brighter future for our
great state.”
At the start of the pandemic,
Wick was working as an emer-
gency room nurse at Good Shep-
herd Medical Center, screening
possible COVID-19 patients. Each
shift, a specifi c nurse was assigned
to solely take care of every sus-
pected COVID-19 patient that
came into the ER. She said it was a
method used to help limit exposure
to others. Testing results at the time
took fi ve to seven days, so patients
who appeared to have symptoms
consistent with the virus were
treated as if they were positive.
It was her turn to be that nurse.
Wick recalled how she felt pre-
pared to deal with screening pos-
sible COVID-19 patients and said
the hospital provided her and other
nursing staff with appropriate per-
sonal protective equipment.
“I thought I would be scared
because it is this big, new, scary
virus but I felt well-equipped,”
Wick said. “In the heat of the
moment, I wasn’t scared.”
Born and raised in Hermiston,
Wick graduated from Hermiston
High School in 2010 and went on
to pursue a career in nursing. She
received her bachelor’s degree
in science and nursing from Lin-
fi eld College and soon after, she
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
Jadie Wick poses for a portrait at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston on Friday, June 12, 2020. Wick was honored
in Gov. Kate Brown’s statewide virtual commencement address on Sunday, June 14, 2020.
attended OHSU’s Master’s in Fam-
ily Nurse Practitioner program at
the La Grande campus, a program
she graduated from on Sunday
alongside her cohort. This 2020
cohort is the fi rst graduating class
from this specifi c campus.
Wick currently works at Good
Shepherd and also at Hermiston
Family Health Associates. She
has been a nurse since 2016 and
attributes her start to her grandfa-
ther, who passed away from a viral
infection. It’s this incident that
sparked her determination to pur-
sue a career in health care.
“My grandpa was someone who
I never got the chance to meet, but
I’ve heard these amazing stories
about him,” she said. “It is one of
the underlying reasons why I chose
this profession. I’ve always liked
caring for people and meeting peo-
ple, and wanting to alleviate pain
and suffering. It’s always been my
career choice. I’ve never wanted to
do anything else but this.”
One of Wick’s main goals as a
nurse practitioner is to eventually
get certifi ed in areas lacking here
in Hermiston. She explained that
because Hermiston is a rural com-
munity, its members don’t often
have the same resources as larger
cities like Portland.
“There are different areas that
require nurse practitioners to be
specially certifi ed in order to care
for types of patients,” she said.
“That’s a goal of mine, to get cer-
tifi ed in as many areas as possible
that fi ts the needs of Hermiston and
the surrounding communities so
they don’t have to travel to big cit-
ies to seek care and can stay here
locally and have their needs met.”
Initially what kept Wick in
Hermiston is her family and
friends. Her father also graduated
from Hermiston High School and
their family are longtime Herm-
istonians. Although she was born
there, Wick said it’s her attach-
ment to the community and the
bonds she formed along the way
that made her want to stay in her
hometown. She recalled memories
of her sledding on the snow-cov-
ered Hermiston Butte in the winter,
playing soccer at the local fi elds
and getting to meet people who
inspire her.
“This place is very much home
to me, and my family is here, and
I get to meet all of these amazing
[community members],” she said.
“I don’t want to live anywhere
else.”
Although Wick is dedicated and
inspired by her fi eld of work, she
also spoke of its challenges, spe-
cifi cally citing workplace violence,
physical and emotional stress and
fl uctuating schedules, all while car-
ing for her 8-year-old daughter.
“Nurses are frequently punched
or kicked or spit at and they’re
put in these situations where their
lives are threatened,” she said. “In
the ER, there are different types of
scenarios where patients become
violent toward nurses and that’s a
huge stress that every nurse has to
deal with, no matter what hospital
they’re working at. It’s something
unfortunate that comes along with
the job even though it shouldn’t.”
When asked what keeps her
going, Wick talked about her fam-
ily, specifi cally her daughter.
“Without her, I don’t think I
would have had the drive or moti-
vation to even apply to graduate
school,” Wick said. “She has been
my motivation through all of this,
wanting to make her proud and
show her that if you put your mind
to something, to give your all.”
Outside of nursing, Wick enjoys
running, swimming, hanging out
with her dogs and spending time
with her family.
Wick graduated along with her
cohort in Sunday’s virtual cere-
mony as a member of the Sigma
Theta Tau International Honor
Society of Nursing.
“I’m super proud of her,” her
father Mike Wick said. “She
worked really hard to achieve that
accomplishment and recognition.
I’m very excited for her to enter the
next phase of her life.”
Upon passing her nursing board
exams in October, Wick is plan-
ning to offi cially work as a nurse
practitioner at a local family med-
icine clinic in Hermiston.
“The OHSU School of Nurs-
ing is proud of Jadie Wick ... Jad-
ie’s new role as a nurse practitioner
will enable her to increase rural and
regional access to primary care,”
dean of the OHSU School of Nurs-
ing Susan Bakewell-Sachs said
Wick said she will be able to
prescribe, diagnose and work as an
independent provider with auton-
omy and the ability to practice
medicine the way that best serves
the patients and her community.
Brown’s 2020 statewide com-
mencement address aired on OPB
radio Sunday.
Many students in the cohort
graduating alongside Wick also
worked as nurses during the pan-
demic while going through the pro-
gram. She said a majority of her
cohort felt guilt and debated taking
time off from the program to care
for COVID-19 patients.
“I mean that’s why we went into
this profession,” she said. “We all
want to help people and feel this
drive to want to alleviate pain and
suffering.”
Miracle-Ear
Aid Sale
May 15th Hearing
2020
May 15th 2020
Tiny Hearing Aids
May 15th 2020
On sale for a limited time!
2 Hearing Aids
Offers as low as
$
Tiny Digital technology delivers
the clearest, most accurate sound
quality available in hearing aids! **
28!
per month †
Sale
May
15th
2020.
June
19
, 2020
Sale
ends ends
May 15th
2020.
th
Fully Digital
Hearing Aid
Many Styles
Available!
DON’T WAIT!
FREE hearing tests *
Reveals if and where you need hearing
assistance and is recommended for
everyone over 50 years old.
FREE
SERVICES!
Attention hearing
aid wearers:
FREE ear canal
inspections *
If you already wear a hearing aid (any
make or model), we can help you, too!
Our FREE computerized analysis and
tune-up help keep your hearing aid
working its best. **
Sometimes it’s nothing more than
excessive earwax. We use our state-of-
the art Video Otoscope to look inside
your ear canal. You can watch on a
video monitor as it happens.
For a limited time only
Receive 2
AudioTone™ Pro
Hearing aids
$
Now Only...
28!
per month †
81109
LIMITED-TIME OFFER. CALL TODAY!
Hermiston: 955 SE 4th St. Ste. B
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 716-5092
<Location>
<Location>
<Location>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
<Location>
<Location>
<Location>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Title>
<Address 1>
<Address 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
<Phone 1>
<Phone 2>
Pendleton: 125 SE Court Ave. Ste. #6
Pendleton, OR 97801
20MaySpring
(541) 224-8661
*Our hearing test and video otoscopic inspection are always free. Hearing test is an audiometric test to determine proper amplification needs only. These are not
medical exams or diagnoses nor are they intended to replace a physician’s care. If you suspect a medical problem, please seek treatment from your doctor.
**Hearing aids do not restore natural hearing. Individual experiences vary depending on severity of hearing loss, accuracy of evaluation, proper fit and ability to
adapt to amplification. Only your Miracle-Ear ® representative can determine which model and options may be right for you.
†
$28 per month. Calculated at 12.99% interest for 60 months, must qualify with HealthiPlan ® Patient Financing.
***Pursuant to terms of your purchase agreement, the aids must be returned within 30 days of the completion of fitting, in satisfactory condition for a full refund.
Trusted for Over 70 Years
To Receive the Offer Mention
Code:
20MaySpring
20JunSpring