from DePaulBlueDemons.com

CHICAGO – If you believe things happen for a reason, then Brooke Schulte was brought into this world to make everyone's life a little better.

With her extraordinary compassion and unselfishness, the former Blue Demon All-American women's basketball player was seemingly born to be a nurse.

And that's exactly where you'll find this 2017 graduate, on the front lines along with her fellow courageous healthcare warriors battling every day to save lives in the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.

After graduating from DePaul's nursing school in August of 2019, Schulte landed a position last December working in the emergency room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Who should she run into in the ER but former Blue Demon basketball player Peter Ryckbosch.

"I ran into Peter one of my first days at the hospital when I was shadowing other nurses," Schulte said. "I had texted him I was there. It's so good working with him---it's like we're on the same team again.

"You work a minimum of three 12-hour shifts a week and the hospital encourages you to take days off in-between. Peter and I are switching to nights beginning May 3rd working 7:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.

"It's easier when you love what you do. I love coming to work and I love taking care of people. We're dealing with people having their absolute worst day and needing immediate care. You're there to help them through it."

The long hours and strenuous demands are mitigated by a powerful bond among these healthcare teammates who share a passion for easing pain and saving lives.

"We have such a strong support staff and compassionate co-workers---you are never alone in this fight," Schulte said. "Northwestern goes above and beyond taking good care of its staff. It's a stressful time with a lot of emotions, but you always have someone to lean on as a co-worker helps you get through the day.

"It can be something as simple as getting someone a cup of coffee to perk them up or taking time with a co-worker to let them vent. Healthcare workers are very team-oriented people.

"All over, people are seeing COVID-19 pop up, and it's really affecting everyone. With a no-visitors policy, we have been helping people get through their stay and being the person they can talk to at the hospital."

Like most of us, Schulte has watched the heartbreaking scenes on CNN when a nurse brings a cell phone to a patient who is nearing the end to say a Skype or FaceTime good-bye to loved ones.

"You never want to see a patient die alone, so it doesn't surprise me when nurses will do whatever they can so that patients can say their final good-bye," Schulte said. "There are so many things I learned from coach Bruno that I use every day. At practice, he would tell us that no matter if you're having a bad day---you do your job and compartmentalize your issues.

"If I'm having a bad day, I put that aside, go into the ER and show those patients I'm going to be strong for them. You're constantly dealing with people having their worst days.

"So many times in practice, I put away my personal issues and tried to be strong for my teammates. You still practice hard and bust it out. Basketball helps me so much in my work."

The life lessons from an iconic coach who cares deeply for his players in a holistic sense have carried over from Lincoln Park to Streeterville.

"Once again, I'm part of a team," Schulte said. "There are many jobs that train you to be by yourself. At Northwestern, we're stronger as a team---delegating, sharing the immense workload, reaching out when you're swamped. You're able to lean on each other.

"It's the same for a basketball. The four other players on the court and everyone on the bench is there for you. There is a correlation between DePaul basketball and Northwestern Hospital. Coach Bruno made me feel more secure when I was playing because I knew what I had to do. It's the same in the ER."

Her worst days take place during life-and-death moments.

"My toughest shifts happen when I'm dealing with people passing away," Schulte said. "That's always so hard. You have patients you're treating and helping for a couple of hours and you start to feel for someone emotionally. Maybe you make a connection that hits home for you. Then all of a sudden, they're gone.

"But you can't let your emotions get the best of you. You take a deep breath, a moment for yourself and compartmentalize what just happened. The fact you're having a tough day is not the fault of your next patient who doesn't know what just happened.

"So, you walk into the next room with a smile on your face and become their strong person. Seeing such a high volume of people, somedays it can take its toll."

To make the unreal transition from momentary grief to uplifting optimism requires a unique skill set and DNA. Schulte believes it comes from her personality and the type of person she is.

Bruno often referred to her as a player who was always looking to serve the needs of her teammates. In fact, she had to deny her very own human nature when leading scorer Jessica January missed two months of the 2016-17 season with a hand injury.

All of a sudden, the service-oriented Blue Demon had to become a little selfish. Instead of helping others, the team desperately needed Schulte to help herself. Put "team-first" in another compartment and become a "me-first" individual.

The results were astonishing. She went from a role-playing junior averaging 8.8 points a game in BIG EAST play to the BIG EAST Player of the Year averaging 20.8 points. The landslide winner for the BIG EAST Most Improved Player award was also an Associated Press and WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) All-American.

"I had to step up and become the kind of scorer coach Bruno saw when he recruited me," Schulte said. "I became the strong leader our team needed with Jess out.

"But it wasn't just me. We all did our share to make up for the loss of Jess. Chante Stonewall had some good games and everyone else became more of a scoring threat."

DePaul (27-8) successfully navigated around the adversity until January's return near the end of the BIG EAST season. The Blue Demons won their fourth consecutive BIG EAST regular-season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Another Bruno life lesson has served this nurse well during the rough patches in ER.

"Doug always told us you can't celebrate the highs too much or beat yourself up too much for the lows," Schulte said. "Stay on an even keel. I did that as a basketball player never showing much emotion either way. You really need that in a hospital setting like this."

All those disturbing news reports and videos that have become our new reality---Brooke Schulte is living them out with every shift. She reinforces the healthcare workers message that has gone viral as nurses and doctors nationwide pose with signs reading: 'I stayed at work for you. You stay at home for us.'

"Individuals are following Governor J.B. Pritzker's order to stay at home, and people are doing a good job only coming to the ER for emergencies," Schulte said. "We're seeing a lot less traffic on the streets and much less foot traffic.

"I take the "El" to work and there is no one on it. It is insane. I have never seen it that quiet and empty. The other day, I was one of two people on the Red Line during rush hour. It's pretty crazy. Whenever I drive to work, a 25-minute commute only takes 10 minutes.

"A lot less people out and about means less instances of people needing to come to ER."

Recharging your mind, your body and your spirit is of paramount importance for someone like Schulte.

"Since gyms are closed, I go for long walks and call family members to check on them," said Schulte who grew up in Germantown in southern Illinois. "My mom is always worried about me as moms always are.

"After a long shift when I'm up at 6 a.m. and get home at 9 p.m., I go straight to sleep. I like to sleep-in on my days off. I binge on Netflix and read books. Things are easier having (ex-Blue Demon) Megan Podkowa living with me. I took last weekend off to celebrate Greek Easter with my boyfriend John who is Greek.

"I keep up with all the pandemic developments because eventually lifting the stay-at-home order will impact my job."

The next time any of us are hospitalized, we can only hope for a nurse like Brooke Schulte.