Nurse Club

The Nurse Club looks on as CDR McGee explains the capabilities of  USNS MERCY.

What a busy, yet exciting semester for USD/SDSU’s NROTC Nurse Club as we learned more about the Navy Nurse Corps from both past and present Navy Nurse Corps Officers, and continue to build relationships with the Naval medical community.

To start off the semester, we were greatly honored to have two Admirals come talk to the club: Rear Admiral Cynthia Dullea, Deputy Commander, Navy Medicine National Capital Area, and Rear Admiral Betsy Niemyer, Regional Director, TRICARE Regional Office – West. These two Nurse Corps Admirals were gracious enough to brief us on the current status and future direction of the Nurse Corps, as well as answer questions of the Midshipmen and Officer Candidates in February at Point Loma Nazarene University.

In March, Ms. Patricia Clansey, a retired US Nurse Corps officer introduced to the Nurse Club the wonderful works of the Navy Nurse Corps Association and shared her amazing stories and experiences. She even invited us to all of the Navy Nurse Corps Association events and welcomed us to join this esteemed association once we are commissioned.

We also had the great privilege to tour USNS MERCY (T-AH 19). Commander McGee gave the Nurse Club a tour of Mercy’s incredible medical capabilities and shared her experiences during Mercy’s most recent deployment -- Pacific Partnership 2008.

Throughout the semester, LT So Newton, a division officer at Naval Medical Center San Diego, visited the Nurse Club to share so much helpful information about the NCLEX, the licensure test to become a Registered Nurse, and what to expect once getting commissioned. Her invaluable advice has well prepared our graduating seniors and gave a heads up to the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. As we wind the down semester, the Nurse Club wishes Fair Winds and Following Seas to four of our seniors getting commissioned into the Nurse Corps: MIDN Laura Pirtle, MIDN Jasette Fong, MIDN Christina Hayes, and OC Gary Galicinao. We also wish Fair Winds and Following Seas to our Nurse Club moderator, LT Bryan Geisert and we are grateful for his never ending guidance and support, while we welcome LTjg Brandon Luiszer as our new Nurse Club moderator.

 

-- MIDN 2/C Eugene Mamaril
   Nurse Club President