The Ascension Saint Thomas Nursing Corps, a joint effort of Ascension Saint Thomas in Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State University to help identify nurse candidates who are also military veterans, recently got its first member.
Martinna Young, 31, a senior nursing major at MTSU, served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years. She signed up with Ascension Saint Thomas in a special ceremony at the university's Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center.
The Nursing Corps is a collaboration between Ascension Saint Thomas, the Daniels Center, and MTSU's School of Nursing. The Daniels Center will direct student-veterans early in their academic career to the Nursing Corps for work opportunities and paid internships, with the goal of being hired after graduation and licensure.
"It's pretty exciting," Martinna told MTSU News. "When we began talking about it, I didn't think of the magnitude. Many people still don't think about women being in the military, and to be a female veteran doing this, it's quite exciting."
Tim Adams, Senior Vice President, Ascension, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Tennessee, said U.S. veterans "bring distinctive attributes into the workplace from their active-duty experience that includes teamwork, leadership, perseverance, self-discipline, integrity and a purpose beyond one's self — learned through service. These attributes closely align with Ascension Values and Mission to serve others, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable."
Martinna's husband, Deandrae Young, also is an Air Force veteran. The couple has three daughters – Trinnity, 9, Aubri, 5, and Draya, 4. Martinna plans to graduate with her bachelor's degree in May 2020.
Photo: MTSU School of Nursing Director Jenny Sauls, left, and Ascension Saint Thomas Nursing Corps member Martinna Young.
