Beyond the uniform: Veterans bring their experience to UC Nursing
Before Austin Davis ever sat in a nursing classroom, he was practicing casualty care alongside Army combat medics. As an infantryman, he trained on litters and CPR and discovered he enjoyed the hands-on work more than he expected. After four years on active duty, he is now a sophomore in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, using the GI Bill to build a second career around the same instinct: helping people directly.
Davis is one of about 70 students in the college's programs with military service, according to its Office of Student Affairs. As the country observes Veterans Day on Nov. 11, three students and one college leader share how their military experiences shaped their paths into nursing and continue to influence the way they learn, lead and care for others.
"Veterans make strong nurses due to their leadership experience, their focus and discipline, their attention to detail and their demonstrated commitment to serving others," says Richard Prior, DNP, FNP-BC, FAANP, senior associate dean for academic operations and accreditation. Prior understands that transition firsthand. He has been a nurse for 35 years and served 25 years on active duty in the Army before retiring as a colonel.
From the infantry to the classroom
Austin Davis finishing the Norwegian Foot March
Nursing grew out of Davis's military experience. His infantry training included instruction alongside combat medics, and the work sparked an interest in health care. He wanted a career that would allow him to help people directly, and nursing offered that opportunity. He chose UC for its history, proximity to a top-rated trauma center and range of hospital clinical placements.
Returning to school after five years away was an adjustment. Davis went straight into a demanding course load and relied on supplemental instruction and peer tutoring to rebuild his study habits and learn how to organize the material.
Austin Davis at Dr. Jeanine Goodin at his Clinical Commitemt Ceremony
Being a few years older than many of his classmates has become an advantage. Davis draws on his life and military experience to informally mentor other students and serve as a peer leader, guiding first-year students on main campus. His time in the military also shaped how he approaches challenges and works with others.
"We were all part of one team," he says.
That team-oriented mindset carries into his goals for the future. He hopes to work with varied populations and eventually become a nurse practitioner.
Serving and studying
Andrew Nguyen at graduation after completing coursework required for his next rank
Andrew Nguyen is pursuing nursing while continuing to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve. A sophomore BSN student, he works as a military police officer and is a third-generation service member. For him, nursing and military service share a common purpose: helping others.
Admitted to the College of Nursing straight out of high school, Nguyen deferred enrollment for a year to complete boot camp and military training, finishing in April 2025. He joined the college that fall, drawn to nursing by his interest in the human body and a desire to help people.
The college has helped Nguyen balance his academic and military commitments. His advisor takes his monthly military obligations into account when planning his class schedule, allowing him to stay on track with his coursework. "I haven't had to make up an exam or an assignment," he says.
Andrew Nguyen and Dr. Donna Green at his Clinical Commitment Ceremony
Nguyen credits the Marine Corps with teaching him organization, discipline and how to stay calm under pressure. Those skills have shaped his nursing interests, drawing him toward high-acuity settings such as the intensive care unit or emergency department.
He plans to continue serving in the reserves as he builds his nursing career. “Many reservists balance military service with civilian professions, including health care, while remaining ready to deploy when called.”
Military and nursing leadership
Lieutenant Johnson after practicing the combat medical lanes
"Leadership is not about having all the answers," says Brittney Johnson. "It is about taking responsibility, being willing to listen, trusting the people around you and recognizing that the success of the mission depends on the entire team."
Johnson has spent 19 years in the Kentucky Army National Guard, where she serves as a first lieutenant and nurse case manager with the Kentucky Medical Detachment. Her military career began in field artillery, where she spent 15 years as a Senior Paralegal Specialist (E-6/Staff Sergeant) before commissioning into the Army Nurse Corps in 2022.
A first-generation college student, Johnson has been a nurse since 2015, starting as a licensed practical nurse before earning her associate degree and BSN. After working in Lexington and Louisville, including time as a travel nurse, an assignment at UC made her realize it felt like home. She returned to Cincinnati and now works nights as a clinical supervisor on the Solid Organ Transplant Unit at University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Brittney Johnson (second from right) with a group of Kentucky Medical Detachment nurses
Her experiences at the bedside also shaped her interest in leadership. Seeing how decisions made beyond the bedside affect nurses' work and patient outcomes led her to pursue the Systems Leadership Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at UC. She is completing the degree through an employer-sponsored UC Health cohort, which makes graduate education more accessible while she balances her work as a nurse leader and her National Guard responsibilities. The arrangement has allowed her to continue her education "without the added financial burden of tuition."
On Veterans Day, Johnson thinks about the people she served alongside, including some who are no longer here. "The friendships, shared experiences, sacrifices, and the memories are things that stay with you long after the uniform comes off," she says.
Supporting those who serve
For Prior, supporting veteran students means recognizing the experience and responsibilities they bring with them.
“UC works to help veterans get the most from their GI Bill benefits through its Veterans Office, which coordinates with the Department of Veterans Affairs, helps resolve benefits issues and connects students with campus resources, mentors and community activities,” he says.
The college also recognizes that military commitments don't stop when students enter the classroom. Faculty and staff work with active-duty, Reserve, National Guard and ROTC students to accommodate service obligations that may conflict with academic requirements.
That commitment extends beyond undergraduate education. U.S. News & World Report ranked the UC College of Nursing No. 8 in its 2026 Best Online Master's in Nursing Programs for Veterans, reflecting the college's efforts to make graduate education accessible to students balancing work, family and other responsibilities.
Whether transitioning from active duty, balancing school with Reserve commitments or bringing years of military leadership into nursing practice, these Bearcats share a commitment to serving others. Their paths may look different, but the values they carry from military service continue to shape the nurses and leaders they're becoming.
The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing thanks Austin Davis, Andrew Nguyen, Brittney Johnson and Richard Prior, along with every student, faculty member and staff member who has served.
Ready to turn your military experience into a career in nursing?
Explore UC College of Nursing programs and discover where your next chapter can take you.
Feature image: Andrew Nguyen (right) and his roommates at military police training graduation. Photo provided.
Related Stories
UC students aim to expand methadone access to treat opioid use disorder
February 16, 2026
Spectrum News speaks with UC students Yara Chaouali and Selma Younes and UC Nursing Professor Rachel Baker about a proposal to expand methodone access to treat opioid use disorder.
UC, UC Health see frontline student training as workforce solution
May 6, 2025
Amid ongoing challenges across the health care workforce, including burnout and shortages, the University of Cincinnati is working to tackle this issue through a program that embeds students in clinical settings.
UC students organize free health clinic in community
July 15, 2026
The University of Cincinnati student chapter of Remote Area Medical held its annual free health clinic July 11-12 at St. Xavier High School. Medical, dental and vision care was offered to adults and children, with no income requirements or insurance needed.