Connection Through Service

Siskin Hospital associates are encouraged to find ways of connecting with patients during their physical rehabilitation program. Some connect over their favorite college football team, or being a kind, listening ear. Many will connect over life experiences, and for Valerie Reese, RN, BSN, she creates connections through her military service.

At 18-years-old, Valerie knew she wanted a career and a chance for education but was unsure of the path she wanted to take to get there. While working as a phlebotomist at Blood Assurance, she got to know the men working at the Navy recruitment office next door, realized that it could help pay for her education and decided to enlist.

After going through boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station, Valerie received her first duty station on July 3, 2001. Less than three months later, the September 11 attacks changed the course of her military career forever. Her ship, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, was one of the first deployed in the aftermath, and beat the world record of most consecutive days at sea with 160 days without port.

While active duty, Valerie served as an Aviation Ordnanceman, where she built, handled and loaded weapons and ammunition.

“In war, you send a plane off and when it comes back without the weapon, then you’ve done your job, but it is still heartbreaking. It’s a job and you had to learn to put it all to the side,” said Valerie.

After four years of service and two wars, she decided it was time for her to leave the military and start her education. Calling Chattanooga State Community College from the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the advisor suggested nursing after learning of her background in phlebotomy. Valerie discharged from the military and three days later she was sitting in a classroom.

“It was a shock to my system, because I was still in the mindset of war, and they are in the mindset of personal education. We couldn’t relate to each other,” said Valerie.

While not originally planning to become a nurse and questioning if it was the right path, Valerie ultimately decided to dedicate herself to the field. She graduated as a registered nurse in 2009 and continued her education earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing online in 2015, paid for through the GI Bill.

Now working at Siskin Hospital, she has made an impact on the lives of her patients, especially her fellow veterans.

When recent Siskin Hospital patient Tom Witt was admitted following a stroke, he was initially agitated, wanting to keep to himself and not connecting with his care team. Once Valerie saw his t-shirt that said Navy and began asking him if he was a veteran, they discovered several interesting connections.  Not only were they both Navy veterans, they also both attended boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station, just 41 years apart.  While she worked in weapons and did not plan to become a nurse, he spent his 20+ year military career as a corpsman, providing medical aid for his fellow officers and Marines.

“After we connected, his entire demeanor and attitude changed, not only with me, but with all of his care team,” said Valerie.

Valerie describes the connection between veterans as a bond that cannot be broken, and says that being able to relate to one another provides a comfort for patients and their veteran family members.

“I remind them, if they can go through war and all of that suffering, they can do the work to get better,” said Valerie.

Siskin Hospital would like to thank Valerie and all of our veteran associates and patients for their service to our country.