Rosalyn Delequexe, Nursing Student

Tennessee Transplant Rosalyn Delequexe is working 12-hour shifts as a CNA for the Massachusetts COVID-19 relief team.   In the fall, she will begin the college’s nursing program, and her goal is to eventually earn her nurse practitioner degree and work with under-served populations patients, including the homeless.  Delequexe moved to Haverhill a few years ago when she fell in love with a local man, who is now her fiance.

“Working in health care isn’t a job for me, it’s a calling,” says Delequexe, who has been assigned to the COVID floor at Meadow Green, a long term care facility, and will be soon be moving to the COVID unit at Boston Hope Hospital.

It runs in the family.   Her great, great grandmother, Eliza Linville cared for patients during the Yellow Fever epidemic in the late 1880’s in Memphis and eventually lost her life to the virus.

“I think about my great, great grandmother and the danger of working with such a contagious virus,” says Delequexe.   “But the nurses are short-staffed, and I want to do my part to help.”

Delequexe’s commitment to health care and her patients is good news for the nursing profession.

In addition to her work with COVID patients, she volunteers with SWOP (Sex Workers Outreach Project) Boston, and other nonprofit organizations that serve at risk and underserved populations.   “My goal is to better serve these populations as a nurse practitioner.   Whether it is STD testing, a physical, a pharmacological intervention, or a referral to other agencies, I want to be that person they can count on.”

Delequexe completed her nursing prerequisites at Northern Essex, and, in biology class, she met Elizabeth Torres, a full-time medical assistant and mother of three young children, who will also be starting the nursing program in the fall.

The two bonded instantly and become study partners.   “She’s so smart and so driven,” says Delequexe.   “We keep each other on track and support one another.”

Delequexe is enthusiastic about her experiences at Northern Essex and looking forward to the fall.   “Northern Essex has a private school feel with public school prices.   I’m blessed to be in the program.”

Northern Essex is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first class to graduate from the Nursing Program.   Since 1970, more than 3,500 nurses have graduated from Northern Essex, most of them now delivering care locally.  Since then the college has also expanded its offerings and now has 20 health care programs, with respiratory care, practical nursing, radiologic technology, medical assisting, and many other options.

You can learn more about Northern Essex’s nursing program here.