As the COVID-19 outbreak continues across the United States and around the world, several former Northwest student-athletes are finding themselves on the front lines of the response to this health crisis. Today brings our fourth installment of a weekly series titled Ranger Responders, in which we will be recognizing some of our former Rangers who are working as doctors, nurses, paramedics or first responders and hearing in their own words about how COVID-19 has affected their daily duties.
Today's feature highlights Brianna Williams, a former member of the Northwest women's basketball program from 2014-16. During her two seasons playing for all-time winningest coach Don Edwards, the Falkner native averaged 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game.
Mostly serving as a role player as a freshman, Williams broke loose during her sophomore campaign, opening the 2015-16 season with 31 points and 11 rebounds in an explosive 118-112 victory against Jones College. She went on to log 10 or more points in 17 games that season, helping the Lady Rangers to a 16-6 overall record and a Region 23 tournament berth.
These days, Williams can be found working as a patient care technician at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth.
Describe what you do as a patient care technician and how Northwest prepared you for your career in healthcare.
"As a patient care technician, our job is to support nurses and other medical staff in caring for patients with mental and physical health concerns. Northwest has prepared me so much for healthcare in a way that I have great time management skills and just being able to interact with individuals on a professional level."
What does a typical day or night consist of for you and your staff?
"For me, a typical day at work includes receiving assignments from a licensed nurse and receiving report from the previous shift so that I can provide quality patient care. Some of those assignments include checking blood pressure, monitoring patients' food and liquid intake and helping our patients perform tasks that they are unable to do."
Have you or anyone you know been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak? Also, what are you and your co-workers doing differently since the advent of COVID-19?
"In my community, there have been a few people affected by COVID-19. Personally, my heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and those who are trying to recover from COVID-19. I just continue to pray and stay cautious. On the job, it has affected myself and our co-workers because we have to now wear masks for the entire shift and there is always a constant fear of not knowing if I'm being exposed or not."
What would be your personal message to everyone about COVID-19?
"Please take this matter seriously. This is very real and scary, especially for all of those that have been infected. If you can, please stay at home and continue to wash your hands regularly."
