Photo By Master Sgt. Andrew Lee | Capt. Colette Gardner, 321st Expeditionary Medical Squadron nurse, poses for a photo...... read more read more
KIRKUK, Iraq - From tennis shoes and scrubs to combat boots and an airman battle uniform, one nurse users her career as a stepping to help wounded warriors.
Capt. Colette Gardner aspired to be a nurse for the sole purpose of taking care of people and saving lives, and so she did. After obtaining her college degree, the Elwood, Ind., native began a 22-year career at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.
“I had no other desire than to be a nurse,” she said. “I just wanted to take care of people, and I thought this was the best way for me to do that.”
As a civilian, Capt. Gardner spent her time as a level-one trauma nurse responsible for surgeries and other medical needs on numerous several patients who came through the hospital doors.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had too many patients that it’s uncountable,” she said. “On an average day, we would have more than 200 patients come in.”
Working a hectic schedule for more than two decades, she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in 2010 to help those who sacrifice their lives for this America.
“I wanted to apply my skill set and knowledge to the ones who have given us our freedom,” Capt. Gardner said.
It was all second nature for her when she transferred her medical career from the civilian life to the military. Coming into a leadership role as a captain and an emergency room nurse, the newly commissioned airman found herself in familiar territory.
“It wasn’t much of a change,” Capt. Gardner said. “I’m doing the same job; I’m just wearing a different uniform every day.”
Eight months into her new career, the Air Force tasked her to deploy to Contingency Operating Site Warrior, Iraq, where she would enter a different realm of the medical field. Assigned to the 321st Expeditionary Medical Squadron, Capt. Gardner would be working in the inpatient recovery ward, where she watches over patients who need to stay overnight. Although she still wanted to help with surgeries, the young officer was still pleased to help take care of patients any way she could.
“At first it was a huge level of frustration to be kept away from what I usually do,” said Capt. Gardner, who is deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. “But I was still happy to be in a position where I could care for the patients.”
In a couple months when she returns from her deployment, Capt. Gardner will be back in Florida doing her original job. Until then, she will be giving maximum effort with smile to all the wounded warriors and patients she sees in Iraq.
“I have no regrets throughout my career,” Capt. Gardner said. “I’ve had awesome experiences and this is the best job in the world.”
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2011 05:42 |
| Story ID: | 69867 |
| Location: | KIRKUK, IQ |
| Web Views: | 283 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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