The summer before Lindsay Zieschang started nursing school, a medical recruiter reached out to her about an opportunity to apply for the Nurse Candidate Program for the U.S. Navy. Every year, 60 applications nationwide are selected.
With nothing to lose, Lindsay decided to apply and see what happened. Fast forward to several months later, and she was accepted into the Nurse Candidate Program and begins serving her term as soon as she graduates from the Orvis School of Nursing in December.
“After I graduate from nursing school and pass my NCLEX, I will be sent to Rhode Island to complete a 5-week officer training boot camp, and after I graduate that successfully I will begin serving 8 years in the Navy (I can spend all 8 years in active duty or complete 4 years in active duty and then spend the remaining 4 years in the reserves if I choose to do so),” explained Lindsay.
Lindsay has always had a passion to help people which is what attracted her to a career in nursing.
“I’ve always had a passion to help people – it brings me so much fulfillment and joy to see the impact I make on my patients both physically and mentally,” said Lindsay. “Also, my mother is a nurse herself and I see how much of a positive impact nursing has had on her life and wished to share this with her.”
During her time in the Traditional BSN program, Lindsay has been preparing to serve in the U.S. Navy.
“Orvis has greatly prepared me for what’s to come. The faculty and my peers are very supportive and brilliant individuals and have taught me the importance of hard work and perseverance which will allow me to be successful in this program.”
Lindsay is looking forward to traveling the world and getting to see the various cultures and healthcare practices that are in place today.
After serving in the U.S. Navy, she hopes to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. She also has aspirations to work as a wound and ostomy care nurse. “During Level Two in nursing school I absolutely fell in love with wound and ostomy care and how much of a difference it made in patient’s lives and how they viewed themselves. It boosted their confidence as well as mine.”
You can learn more about the U.S. Navy Nurse Candidate Program on their website.
