National Nurses Week: Ouidad Erraji

Ouidad Erraji
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center

Ouidad Erraji always wanted to be a nurse, but there were no nursing schools where she grew up in Morocco. She moved to the United States in 2002 and began studying English. By 2008, her dream began to take shape when she became a housekeeper at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.

She began taking nursing classes, earning her CNA1 and CNA2. By then she was working in the Oregon Burn Center and neurotrauma intensive care unit. Today, she works at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center where she is an LPN in the complex discharge unit and will start nursing school in the fall.
 

What drew you to a career in nursing?

I enjoy helping people.
 

What do you like best about being a nurse?

I like the fact that you’re always learning. I’m fascinated by the brain and want to eventually work as a nurse in the neurotrauma unit.
 

How does being a nurse fulfill you?

It makes me feel like I’m giving to the community, even though I’m in the hospital. 
 

What do you like best about working with your Legacy team?

The team is like a family. It’s why’ve I’ve been here since 2008. I don’t think I could work anywhere else.