By Sarah Morgan Johnson
U.S. Army Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Trenita Crenshaw says she has always felt a pull toward nursing, but after the truck she was driving as part of her deployment in Afghanistan in 2012 was hit by an improvised explosive device, she was determined to work in health care.
Crenshaw was severely injured and one of her squad mates was killed. She remembers feeling powerless due to her lack of medical training and was determined to never feel that helpless again.
“In the aftermath of that experience, I knew I needed to go back to school and finally become a nurse. We had some very basic medical training as truck drivers, but I knew I wanted to gain the necessary skills to intervene in a crisis. I wanted to be better equipped to help those around me, and this drove me back to nursing,” Crenshaw said.
After returning to the U.S. with a Purple Heart for her heroic service to the Army, she began exploring different options to work in health care. She went to school to become a respiratory therapist and went on to have a successful career for several years. Eventually, Crenshaw decided it was the right time to apply to nursing school.
Following the encouragement of her friends and family, she applied and was admitted to the UAB School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Crenshaw also participated in the School’s Veteran’s Career Advancement in Nursing initiative (Veterans CAN!), which aids military veterans, active-duty reservists and members of the National Guard transition into a nursing career.
As she prepares to graduate with her BSN, Crenshaw is thankful for all the support she has received from Veterans CAN! and grateful to the many professors and faculty members who have supported her along the way.
“I had always heard great things about the UAB School of Nursing but was intimidated to attend such a highly ranked nursing school. However, once I got here, I immediately knew that I had made the right choice. My professors have supported me through every step, and I truly love this School,” Crenshaw said.
Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Veterans CAN! Randy Moore, DNP, RN, CCRN (BSN 1993, MSN 2004, DNP 2012), says Crenshaw’s military background has made her a resilient individual and will make her an effective and compassionate nurse.
“Her work ethic is ‘will never quit’ and her perseverance is evident in the way she gets better every day and at every opportunity. She is an amazing individual and will become an excellent nurse. Her background adds a layer of empathy and care that others will want to emulate. The Veterans CAN! program is designed for students exactly like Trenita. I am proud that UAB offers these resources, that I get to participate in this program and that Trenita and students like her are choosing to attend this remarkable institution,” Moore said.
Reflecting on her path towards nursing, Crenshaw says her time in the military has shaped her drive to succeed in nursing school. She would encourage others considering a career shift to nursing that it is never too late to pursue another path.
“For me, my military career and more specifically my accident serves as the real life ‘why’ behind my decision to return to school and become a nurse,” Crenshaw said. “Having this to fall back on has helped me continue when classes and clinicals are tough. If you feel the call to be a nurse, listen to that and don’t give up on your passions. There are no wasted experiences, and my journey is proof that everything happens for a reason.”