BOSTON – Jess Ferreira'09 is arguably one of, if not the best player in Suffolk softball's history.
Over the course of her athletic career as a Ram, which spanned 2006-09, Ferreira hit .471 with 37 dingers, 45 doubles, 26 triples and a .902 slugging percentage. She commanded the circle with a 3.60 career ERA over 44 appearances with 34 complete games and 260 punchouts in 283.2 innings twirled. Her numbers translated into a hefty award haul that features a pair of All-America honors, three GNAC Player of the Year titles, four All-GNAC First-Team selections and the 2005 GNAC Rookie of the Year nod. As a junior in 2008, she led the nation in slugging at a 1.073 clip.
For her efforts on the diamond, Ferreira was enshired into Suffolk's Hall of Fame in 2015 and became the third Ram to be inducted into the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Hall of Fame in teh 10-member Class of 2023.
GoSuffolkRams.com caught up the with the Rams' former softball standout to see what she's up to today.
Since Suffolk, you’ve moved into the work field. Could you describe your current occupation, what company you work for and the role you have?
After receiving my Master’s in Education and working in that field for several years I moved to Alexandria, Virginia, decided to help people in other ways, changed careers, and most recently became an ICU nurse. I currently work in the Cardiovascular Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Inova Alexandria Hospital. I have been there since 2018.
** Since the publication of this piece, Jessica has transitioned jobs and is currently working at Reston Hospital, a Level 2 Trauma ICU.
How did you land your job?
Changing careers was challenging since I had to start over. When I decided to change careers I had not taken a science course in over 15 years. So to say it was a challenge going back to school at 28 was an understatement. I had to reprogram my brain and as a non-traditional student working full time there were obstacles. I first volunteered at a primary care in Springfield, Virginia to get exposure to the medical field and make myself more hirable in a hospital.
While bartending at this little cheese and wine bar in a small sub part of Alexandria called Del Ray, I met an emergency department nurse who would forever change my life. She noticed me studying anatomy and physiology at the bar in between taking care of customers and wanted to hear my story. She was an ED nurse for Inova Loudoun and wanted to meet up for coffee later that week to review my resume and look at clinical technician positions in the ICU. She helped me apply for a clinical technician position in the Cardiovascular Neuroscience ICU and I was fortunate to get the job. I worked there full time for 3.5 years during COVID, while attending nursing school before I finally became an ICU nurse in April 2022.
Is this your dream job?
Being an ICU nurse is the foundation for my dream job which is to get my doctorate in nurse-anesthesia practice (DNAP). I want to eventually work in the OR in plastics.
Describe your typical day.
My typical work day starts at 7:00 a.m. in the morning huddle where we discuss things that are going on in the unit, changes in any protocols, and any updates for nurses and other staff. Then we receive reports from the night-shift RN where we go over patient history, admission, systems, relevant labs and images, current IV drips, and plan of care. The normal ICU nurse to patient ratio is 1:2. Sometimes I will have just 1- ICU patient and open for an admission, other times I will have a 1:1 (nurse to patient) ratio, and sometimes I will have up to 4 step down patients who have been downgraded from ICU awaiting transfer to another unit. In critical care, you are always assessing and reassessing your patient, going on road trips for more imaging, adjusting and modifying care if the patient deteriorates, and troubleshooting problems that arise. We work very closely with our ICU doctors regarding our patients. Then my day usually ends around 1900 where I give a report on my patients for the day and handoff with the night-shift RN. However, sometimes if there is a lot of charting that needs to be done or I received a late admission my day can go much longer than 1900 and there have been times when a patient crashed right at change of shift where I have been there until midnight. I never want to leave my night-shift nurse with an unsteady patient nor leave them with a lot of work that was supposed to be done on my shift.
What’s the most surprising part of your job?
Everyday is different. All patients are different. I am surprised everyday by something whether its a patient, their family, how a patient responds to treatment or medications, my colleagues, a new admission. The life of an ICU nurse is ever changing.
What’s the biggest perk of your job?
It is gratifying to say that I truly help people. When I leave work I made a difference in someone's life today, maybe even saved a life. There are not a lot of jobs in this world where you can say that.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my work ethic on the unit. I am always learning at work. Every day I step on the unit I try to be the best nurse and team player I can be. Who I have become as a nurse and the growth I have seen in that role is what I am most proud of.
What is your favorite memory at work?
My favorite memories would include the friends I have met along the way during this crazy journey. Nurses understand the struggles of other nurses in a way that other people cannot. That bond is very strong and all my favorite memories include the important people I have met at work and the experiences we have shared.
How did Suffolk prepare you for your role?
As a student-athlete, the balancing act between academics and athletics taught me invaluable life lessons. The discipline required to manage rigorous training schedules, 4:00 a.m. practices, travel, and game days, while maintaining good grades was no easy feat. Yet, it was this challenge that molded me into the resilient and determined individual I am today.
What’s your favorite Suffolk memory?
Definitely being inducted into the Suffolk Hall of Fame in 2015. I was so honored to be considered and it brought back so many wonderful memories from Suffolk from playing softball in the North End, to living in the there (which is still one of the coolest places I have ever lived), to walking through the streets of Beacon Hill to class. That induction ceremony encompassed all the hard work and dedication during my time at Suffolk.
What advice do you have for current students?
To always work hard and to never give up. At first I never thought I would go to college, but softball created a way out for me. I had no idea how important the next four years would be. Even though that initial path post Suffolk was rocky and caused me to change careers, I never gave up and am now an ICU nurse. For someone who didn't think they would go to college I now have four degrees. You can truly do anything you put your mind to.
What made you choose Suffolk?
I was a home-grown athlete from Cambridge, Massachusetts who walked on to Suffolk University’s softball program. I lived less than two miles from campus in East Cambridge and Suffolk checked every box for me. They offered me a way out of the life I was living and because of Suffolk my life was forever changed.
Outside of work/school, what is your life like? I.E. family, kids, what do you do for fun, etc?
My favorite thing to do outside of work is to go on adventures, whether that is at the beach, heading into the mountains, or checking out a cool winery. I love exploring new areas. I love being outside. I love exploring cute historic towns, since I grew up in one of the most historic areas in the country.
Are you a Suffolk Athletics alum who would like to revisit with Ram Nation? Contact Sports Information Director Amy Barry at abarry7@suffolk.edu.