Scottsdale Community College Nursing Program Grad Heads for Boot Camp

Scottsdale, AZ (April 16, 2008) -- Scottsdale Community College Nursing program graduate Amy Kovach may not seem like the typical military recruit -- she is soft spoken, gentle, and introspective.  Look a bit deeper, however, and one can see that this soon-to-be Navy Nurse also has an intensity of purpose, inner strength, and commitment to service that not only make her a perfect fit as a nurse, but a perfect candidate as a US Naval Officer. 

On April 14, Kovach (pictured below far right) left for Rhode Island for Office Development School -- also known as "boot camp."  From there, she will be stationed at Camp Pendleton for three years where her primary duty will be to train Navy medics.

How did Kovach go from nursing student to officer candidate?

It began with inspiration from someone who's been there.  While at the National Student Nurses Association convention in 2005, the convention's keynote speaker, former US Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Richard Carmona, caught her attention. 

"He had a fascinating story about growing up in a rough neighborhood and how his experiences as a Navy nurse transformed him," said Kovach.  "It triggered something in me and I knew I wanted to join the Navy."

Kovach's interest in nursing began right out of high school, but it did not take off until years later when she spent time caring for her grandfather when he entered hospice.  It was this experience that helped her understand the value that nurses bring to many different settings.  It also made her aware of her own capabilities.  She then entered SCC's nursing program with a newfound confidence.  "I loved everything about it." 

A highly motivated Nursing student, Kovach started the SCC Nursing Club where she brought in guest speakers to share information with her peers, the first--an RN expert on sexual assault.  She got involved in state and national nursing conventions, was an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and was 1^st Team All-Arizona in 2005, a direct reflection of her GPA.  She transferred to the University and got her bachelor's degree in Nursing.   

Kovach's interest in community health grew from her internship experiences at the County public health system where she worked closely with the homeless population.   It was an area she had never experienced before.  "Why did I not know this existed?"    She reflected on how much of herself she saw in the people she was trying to help.  "They are all trying to survive.  They just don?t have what we have."

Jennifer Quinn, faculty RN in SCC's Nursing program, taught Kovach during her very first semester.  "She was very quiet, but excelled in clinicals because she got a quick grasp of the nursing process," said Quinn.  "She was a critical thinker, she gathered all the facts, and did not jump to conclusions.  She caught on to the process right away."

SCC's nursing program involves clinicals and lectures.  The standards are high and the program is difficult.  In clinicals, students are exposed to the rigors of nursing and bedside care through community rotations in various health agencies, the State hospital, in Valley hospitals such as Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn (a Level 1 trauma hospital), in psychiatric settings, as well as at agencies like the Crisis Nursery. 

The clinical rotations at SCC are closely supervised -- one RN supervisor for every 10 students.  Clinicals involve rotations at maternity wards, pediatric units, surgery, intensive care units, ER/trauma, and the nationally renowned burn unit at the County hospital.  In clinical settings, students select a patient, research their illness and symptoms--sometime for several hours each night, and then return to the clinical setting the next day where they apply their knowledge to patient care.

Nick DeFalco, faculty RN in SCC's nursing program, says Amy was a strong student leader with influence.  "She demonstrated a number of positive qualities that I knew would allow her to excel at nursing," said DeFalco.  "She was self-motivated, fair, attentive, consistent, and responsive.   She also knew what was important."  

DeFalco is no stranger to the military world and relates first-hand to Kovach's career choice.  Soon after graduating from SCC's nursing program in 1998, DeFalco retired from a 20-year career with the Air Force.  After a career as an RN in various clinical settings, he came back to SCC to teach.