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The Navy Nurse Experience

Before pursuing her doctorate in nurse anesthesia, Erika Grattidge spent eight years active duty as a nurse in the Navy—a career that exposed her to a variety of nursing fields, from medical-surgical to critical care. It also expanded her geographical horizons, taking her from San Diego, to the Pacific, and on to the Middle East. 

“I deployed on the USNS Mercy in 2015, which is a 1,000-bed hospital ship, providing health missions and surgical care throughout countries in the Pacific for six months. I also deployed with the United States Marine Corp in 2018 with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to the Middle East for 7 months, working in areas of Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria,” said Grattidge. 

Finding Community, Being of Service

Now at ɫ��ֱ��, Grattidge’s veteran status is an important part of her journey, helping shape the way that she both serves the community and finds belonging within it.

“As I was getting out of the Navy, I started looking at schools for Nurse Anesthesia. I knew ɫ��ֱ�� had the reputation for an outstanding nurse anesthesia program, diverse clinical experience for its students, and a military-friendly community with many veteran and active-duty students and faculty,” said Grattidge.

“I remember on my interview day at ɫ��ֱ�� feeling a sense of belonging. I knew that DUSON was the school for me,” Grattidge added.

Grattidge is a member of the , an employee-led affinity group that welcomes and supports veterans. 

Further demonstrating that service is at the heart of her work, Grattidge also co-coordinated the School of Nursing’s 2024 Nurse Anesthesia Week, helping to facilitate volunteering events in Durham and Raleigh as a chance to give back and to spread awareness about the Nurse Anesthesia community. Participants volunteered for Habitat for Humanity as well as the Raleigh and Durham Food Banks, and they delivered an info session to the NCCU nursing program.

“There are hundreds of schools for nursing degrees, or even a nurse anesthesia degree. I think the ‘DUSON difference’ is creating not just a nurse, but a nurse leader,” said Grattidge.

Supporting Veterans at ɫ��ֱ�� and Beyond

ɫ��ֱ�� is ranked #3 among the country’s best online master’s in nursing programs for veterans, and #7 in nurse anesthesia, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

More than , giving this state the third-largest military presence in the nation. ɫ��ֱ�� helps support this sizable community by offering programs and services for active-duty military and veterans enrolled in its graduate programs.

As Grattidge begins the next stage of her career in North Carolina, she hopes that her work can take her, once again, to different regions of the world where she can be of service. 

“I plan to stay in the Durham area as I start my career as a CRNA,” said Grattidge. “After getting some valuable experience, I am interested in medical outreach programs and travel opportunities as a CRNA. The idea of giving back and utilizing the skill of anesthesia in countries that need it is something I feel really passionate about.”