Every day, we rely on the dedication of individuals who make incredible sacrifices to keep us safe, well-protected, and cared for in our times of need. This Veteran’s Day, as we salute those who’ve donned a uniform in service of our country, we’d like to recognize a remarkable trio who have also donned nursing scrubs in service of their communities.
Their lives blend the worlds of the military and healthcare, with stories of compassion, camaraderie, and an unwavering desire to help others serving as a common thread running through their journeys. Join us in honoring these remarkable individuals as we celebrate the resilience, dedication, and powerful sense of purpose that fuels their lives of service.
Kelsi Speight
Registered Nurse, Ohio
Kelsi Speight’s journey from combat medic in the United States Air Force to her life as a nurse embodies an incredible commitment to helping others.
Kelsi’s military path was unexpected, but fate had other plans. When she enlisted in the Air Force, she did not know that she would become a medic, treating wounded service men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. When her military service ended, she did not know that she would go to nursing school, ultimately finding herself on the frontlines of some of the hardest-hit areas during the pandemic.
During her time at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., Kelsi played a critical role in helping injured soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors who were arriving back home in immediate need of care. Upwards of 70 service men and women at a time would arrive at the aeromedical station where Kelsi would be to provide them with the care they needed until they could transfer to their respective branch hospitals.
Not only did this experience confirm Kelsi’s calling to care for others, but it prepared her for what lay ahead with COVID-19. As a travel nurse, she found herself on hospital floors that doubled in patient capacity overnight and needed help from FEMA and the National Guard. It felt like a military setting; Kelsi was able to lean into her experience with the Air Force to care for as many people as she could.
Kelsi’s outlook is clear: “I don’t see it as my duty. I see it as some people need help, and some people are capable of helping. If I can help someone, I’m going to help them.” Kelsi says that joining the military was one of the best things she’s ever done. As a woman, especially a Black woman, that choice was empowering. “The discipline and teamwork that I learned, I’ve applied it to nursing, and everywhere I go, I try to display it.”
Renee Petell
Licensed Practical Nurse, Massachusetts
Renee’s life has been dedicated not only to her country but also to those in need of care in her community.
Caring for others is in Renee’s blood. Her father worked in home care, and her aunt has been a nurse for nearly 40 years. It didn’t take long for Renee to heed the same calling. As a 10th-grader, Renee took a shop course at her high school to explore the world of nursing, leading her to earn her certified nursing assistant’s certificate before she had even turned 18. But upon graduation, she paused her nursing pursuits for her other passion – she enlisted in the Army.
Renee soon found herself in Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Ultimately, she would join the Army Reserves as a medical supply specialist, where something truly incredible happened. Her two worlds began to converge as she became part of a unit responsible for training combat units to create in-field medical facilities. For six years, Renee dedicated one weekend a month and two weeks a year to traveling the country to perform simulated combat scenarios where she would help set up fully functional hospital units housed in tents.
It was during these transformative years that Renee also made the decision to attend nursing school. She earned her Licensed Practical Nursing degree, and after her military service, she began building her family and a thriving career as an LPN.
Renee looks back on her time in the military with profound gratitude, describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that offers unique opportunities for personal growth. She treasures the friendships she forged during basic training, staying in touch with some of the friends she met there. In her life today, she finds that same camaraderie with her fellow nurses. As she puts it, “I’m only friends with nurses and CNAs.”
While nursing, like the military, presents its fair share of challenges, Renee remains committed. She acknowledges that she’s had tough days when she’s thought, “I don’t want to be a nurse today,” but she always returns to the powerful sense of fulfillment she gets from making someone’s day a little brighter. “You’re making that person happy for the day. I still find a lot of happiness in nursing because of that. Those are the days that remind me of how much I love my job. I can do it for another 30 years; I don’t want to do anything else.”
Nicole Cernek
Certified Nursing Assistant, Pennsylvania
Nicole’s journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to both her country and the well-being of those in her care.
Raised in the Northern Lebanon area of Pennsylvania, Nicole developed a passion for helping others at a young age, heavily influenced by her father’s role as a pharmacist and nursing instructor. In 2009, she turned this passion into a career by becoming a certified nursing assistant. Over the following decade, Nicole found fulfillment in caring for others as a CNA. Yet, her desire to make an even greater impact on her community and her country led her on a new path.
In 2018, Nicole enlisted in the Navy. After enduring the rigors of boot camp at United States Navy Great Lakes, Nicole emerged as a Sailor. With immense pride, she joined the prestigious Seabees unit as a builder, embarking on her first tour during a year-long deployment to Bahrain that concluded last winter. On the frontlines, she played a vital role in constructing essential infrastructure, from airway roads to buildings.
Even through her service to her country, Nicole has remained true to her roots as a caregiver. Currently training at Fort Dix in New Jersey as part of the Navy Reserve, she balances both worlds, resuming her position as a nursing assistant around her training commitments. Nicole’s ability to balance her responsibilities is a true reflection of the resilience and determination she developed in the Navy.
Nicole acknowledges that the military has profoundly shaped her as a person, recognizing the strength in her growth. She’s learned to be more flexible and adaptable in her approach to life, which has also transformed her approach as a caregiver.
While it can be challenging to step back and see the bigger picture sometimes, Nicole can appreciate the impact that her life of service has had on others. “I want to help everyone that I can. It is my purpose, it’s why I’m here – to care for everyone and everything that I can,” says Nicole. “I am proud to serve my country. I am proud to be a CNA.”
This Veteran’s Day, let us salute these incredible individuals and their extraordinary dedication to making the world a better place. Their selflessness truly embodies the core values of the military and the boundless compassion of a caregiver. We thank you for your service.