For Allison Johnson, a doctoral student in the MSU College of Nursing Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, service has always been at the forefront of her professional journey. Inspired by her grandmother, Johnson saw nursing as her future from an early age; however, she chose to serve her country first before establishing a career in healthcare.
“I always felt respect and honor for people in service,” said Johnson. “It just felt like a noble pursuit.”
In 2008, she enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard as a “15 Tango,” or a UH-60 helicopter repairer. After intensive training, her duty was to maintain UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and ensure that they were mission-ready.
During her nine years of military service, Johnson moved into leadership positions, including as a flight trainer, where she helped prepare recruits for aviation at a Michigan Army National Guard base.
In 2013, she was deployed to Shukvani, Afghanistan, where she served as a crew chief for a medical evacuation unit at a small U.S. Marines combat outpost. Since the base only had a small medical facility, they would evacuate injured personnel to the larger base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where they could receive more intensive care.
During a medical evacuation, the flight crew would consist of two pilots, a medic, a critical care nurse and Johnson, as the crew chief. She maintained the helicopter's flight readiness, performed emergency maintenance, and supported the medical professionals while enroute.
“We helped a lot with the medical care that needed to happen along the way as we transported people from wherever they were to wherever they needed to be to get better care.”
The challenges of these duties forged close bonds amongst their unit.
“It's a hard time. You're away from your family and I feel like all of us really came together and made our own family,” reflected Johnson. “It was just something that's always stuck with me. I've made some of the best friendships of my life in that way.”
One of the critical care nurses in her unit became a mentor to Johnson. She noted that he always remained calm and collected during challenging emergencies. Johnson eventually confided in him that her goal was to become a nurse.
“He just asked me like, ‘why haven't you done it?’ and I didn't really have an answer,” recalled Johnson. “He gave me that push that I needed to like come home and make it happen.”
After Johnson was honorably discharged in 2017, she pursued her dream of becoming a nurse by earning her BSN from Davenport University. Johnson's nursing journey began on a telemetry unit at McLaren Greater Lansing Hospital. She went on to become a unit manager at a long-term care facility.
She was continuously drawn to psychiatric and mental health care after witnessing the critical need for greater access to mental health services among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“I knew quite a few people who died by suicide because of their PTSD, and that was a hard thing to cope with, because you just wish you could have helped,” said Johnson. “That was when I knew I wanted to go into psychiatric care.”
Tragically, Johnson’s mentor, who provided the initial encouragement she needed to become a nurse, was among those she lost to suicide. She learned of his passing shortly after she applied to the MSU College of Nursing’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
“I was going to reach out to him and let him know when I got accepted, but then I found out that he had died a week after I applied. That was really hard,” said Johnson.
Resolute in her commitment to support fellow veterans, Johnson is in her first semester as a DNP student. Following graduation, she intends to go into private practice and specialize in veteran patient care.
“I would love to work with veterans and make sure they have easy access to continuous care through one provider, instead of seeing someone new each time,” stated Johnson. “It is important to have that continuity of care when working with veterans with PTSD, depression and anxiety.”
Johnson received both of the available College of Nursing’s scholarships for military-affiliated nursing students. As a full-time DNP student and mother of four, the support has lessened the financial burden on Johnson and her family.
“The scholarships have been a huge blessing to us with only my husband working right now,” stated Johnson. “I feel like they will allow me to find a job in the area I want to be in instead of having to worry about how much I need to make in order to pay off my student loans.”
Furthermore, receiving funding created specifically for veterans has made the experience more impactful.
“I feel like it gives the same kind of pride as serving," stated Johnson. "I received scholarships in memoriam of these service members, and it gives me the opportunity to continue to honor them for their sacrifice, which feels really special. It carries on their legacy.”
To support the success of veterans like Allison Johnson, please consider giving to the Captain Sean Grimes Nursing Endowed Scholarship and the Sergeant Leonard B. Graham III Nursing Scholarship.