Don’t tell Joyce Perez what she CAN’T do

Joyce Perez was once told she couldn’t make it through nursing school. The single mother of four proved the college administrator wrong.

The odds were stacked against her: she was 36 and older than many of the students. No one in her family had graduated from college. And she was working to support her children while driving to another state for nursing classes.

She said one of the administrators singled her and another new student out: “He said some of you may as well quit now because you’re not going to make it. That was my driving force to succeed,” says Joyce.

“I tell young people no matter the odds against you, if you stay dedicated and put God first you will succeed.”

Joyce is one of the talented members of the North Sunflower Medical Center nursing team. We are featuring their stories to encourage others to pursue the medical field – and to give you a glimpse into the special people who passionately care for patients each day at NSMC.

Joyce’s experience shows the varied backgrounds and experiences of our team.

Joyce has worked in multiple places, but she tells us this is home.

“It is a fantastic place to work. North Sunflower is for the employees and patients,” she says. “They are all about family.”

Joyce had loved tending to injured things since she was an 11-year-old growing up in a rural community near Belzoni. Neighbors brought her cats and other ill animals.

“I decided I want to take care of people. It just never ever went away,” says Joyce, a self-described country girl.

Joyce started her journey as a CNA, or certified nursing assistant. She said that is one way for someone to get a feel for the field. She spent 12 years as a CNA.  Nurse assistants help patients with healthcare needs under the supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.

“It will help you with your skills. It’s a good place to start,” Joyce tells us.

She said the step to a nursing degree was intimidating at first. She decided to become an RN and ended up relocating her family to Arkansas for her studies.

“You can’t just look at the prestige of it. You have to have a heart for it,” she says.

At NSMC, Joyce is a supervisor. She said she is constantly learning from the staff, while also helping them build their skills. She says she never gives up on her patients.

“We are a team. My biggest job is learning and teaching,” she says. “It’s really rewarding. You help others. You take care of the whole person. You take care of their family. You give to them and they give back to you.’’

We hope Joyce’s story will inspire others to look into our jobs at https://northsunflower.com/careers and to not be discouraged by obstacles. We want you in our family.

“Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers,’’ Joyce says, adding, “North Sunflower Medical Center is the best place to be!’’