Army Veteran and Piedmont Nursing Graduate Encourages Honor Society Inductees to Lead with Purpose and Grit

A Message of Purpose: Honoring the Next Generation of Healthcare Leaders

it is a true privilege to stand before you today as we gather to celebrate the induction of new members into the honor society for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences here at Piedmont University. This occasion marks a significant milestone in your academic journey and reflects your unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of nursing and health sciences and the continued improvement in health and the well-being of our communities.

The calling of a healthcare professional

Piedmont University has always been a beacon of learning and a hub for cultivating future leaders in healthcare. As future leaders in nursing and health sciences, you are stepping into a field that demands compassion, resilience, and integrity. The journey you have embarked on is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is about applying that knowledge to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. 

Overcoming obstacles: from student to soldier

Each of us have faced challenges along our paths, and as you continue this journey, you will undoubtedly encounter many more obstacles that test your resolve—whether they be academic hurdles, personal struggles, or unforeseen obstacles in life, you can count on them. You will witness the struggles of patients and their families, confront ethical dilemmas, and navigate the intricacies of healthcare systems. I can speak confidently to the inevitably of obstacles. Upon entering the nursing program here at Piedmont University, I not only faced the orientation to the high expectations and demanding course schedules, but I also transitioned into fatherhood. That’s right, I became a new father at the same time as becoming a new nursing student. As if this juggling act wasn’t trying enough, another huge obstacle presented itself. During this time, I was an active member in the Army National Guard. With one semester left in nursing school here at Piedmont, my unit was activated and given orders to deploy to Afghanistan in the middle of the semester for roughly 9 months. During this time, I was the leader of my unit, so I was being tasked with leading a group of men into an active combat zone. It was undoubtedly the most trying and dangerous times of my life during that year, and I learned a lot about myself. 

Discipline and determination: Lessons from the battlefield and the classroom

During this time, I had to constantly remember that it is not the challenge itself that defines me, but rather how I would respond to the challenge. While being a student in one of these esteemed programs within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences doesn’t exactly compare to being at war, there are some noteworthy similarities. Each and every day, you have decided to show up and give your best, even when it felt daunting or futile. You demonstrated discipline, accountability, grit, and perseverance. 

You made the conscious decision to hold yourselves to higher standards and be a role model for your peers both in your cohorts and for those cohorts coming after you. You have prioritized academic excellence and invested your time, energy, emotions, and passion to becoming an exceptional healthcare professional. 

The ‘Army Ethos’ and the nursing student mindset

In the Army, there are things called ethos, which are really like mantras to keep us focused on the “why.” These ethos are:

 1. I will always place the mission first.

2. I will never accept defeat.

3. I will never quit.

4. I will never leave a fallen comrade. 

Each of you have unintentionally applied each of these statements to your educationally journey. As students studying to become healthcare professionals, you have placed that mission above every other life demand. 

We are all adults in this room, maybe in different places of adulthood, but the demands remain regardless of your season of life. Despite the demands, the inconveniences, the sleepless nights, the commuting to clinical sites, the torture of sitting in class for hours on end, you kept your focus locked in on your goal of completing your program successfully. 

Resilience in action: Staying the course

With these determined attitudes, you made a very clear statement that you will not accept defeat. Whether that means showing up to class when you’ve been up most of the night or scheduling repetitive office visits with faculty to talk about assignments and grades, you continued to put one foot in front of the other and overcome the circumstances that so many others would allow to become excuses for accepting defeat. 

Each one of you being inducted into the honor society is tenacious; you have not quit even when that may have seemed like the only option. Instead of being trapped into the corners you may have been pushed into, you boldly chose to continue your fight to achieve your educational goals. 

Gratitude for faculty and mentors

The faculty in this room empathize with you so much, even if they have been the face of your struggles up to this point. They can attest to the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication required to be successful. Not only because they are the author of said hard work through assignments and tests, but because they have been where you are. 

I feel confident I can speak for each of them in saying how admirable your efforts have been and how proud we are of your accomplishments. Let’s take a moment to show our appreciation for these students here tonight because of their achievements. 

Ethos #4: Never leave a fallen comrade

Finally, etho number 4: never leave a fallen comrade. This really is the epitome of why you have all sought out an educational pathway to become a healthcare professional. You each have an innate desire to help those who either can’t or have trouble helping themselves.

You have chosen to enter a professional career that requires you to meet patients where they are. These patients will be from all walks of life, socioeconomic statues, religions, health literacies. Each of you is bravely choosing to fulfill a role that is intended to meet the need of a patient in a vulnerable position. In most cases, meeting this need will require partnering with this patient and supporting them to see that they cross the finish line. 

You are courageously choosing to be the healthcare provider that makes a commitment to your patient that you will not abandon them in their time of need. 

A setback is a setup for a comeback

A superior once reminded me that the true measure of success is not the absence of struggle, but in our response to it. Each setback can be a setup for a comeback, and every obstacle can become an opportunity for growth. 

I came back from war and immediately jumped in right where I left off in the nursing program, and I thought maybe this isn’t even what I want to do anymore. With one semester left, and my mind still in the battlefield, I seriously contemplated quitting nursing school. 

I had a conversation with one faculty member in particular who in turn became my biggest cheerleader. She convinced me to stay and finish what I had already started and held me accountable to those ethos. Thank God she did. She advocated for me and was able to secure my practicum placement in the ER. In this fast-paced, high-stakes/high-reward environment, I rekindled my passion for nursing and reminded me of the ethos. 

Finding purpose in the ER — and then the VA

However, my final obstacle that I faced while in the nursing program was Covid-19. The pandemic resulted in my practicum being cancelled halfway through, but thankfully, I spend enough hours in the ER to realize completing the mission was the right decision. 

I officially graduated in May 2020 and passed the NCLEX on the first attempt that same month. Since obtaining my license, I worked as a new grad in the same ER where I completed my practicum. After a couple of years, I transitioned into the interventional radiology department and enjoyed the specialized nature of nursing.

I didn’t have my long-term nursing career goals planned out, but sometimes, the best opportunities are the ones you don’t see coming. As a veteran, I utilize the VA for my primary healthcare needs. During one of my visits to the Athens VA clinic, I met the manager who was serving in an interim position that would require her relocation to Augusta when the title became permanent. This interaction led to piquing my interest in nursing leadership and learning more about employment within the department of Veterans Affairs. 

After a few months, I applied and was chosen as the new nursing manager at the Athens VA clinic. Within the relatively short time that I’ve held this position, I have been tasked with managing additional clinics in Aiken, South Carolina, and Statesboro. 

Remain open to the unexpected

I say this to encourage you to remain openminded and openhearted to unforeseen opportunities that present themselves in your careers. You’ve already proven you have all the attributes, attitudes, and skills to be successful, and moments of most growth often take place when we left ourselves out of our comfort zones. 

You are the future of healthcare

The bottom line is your path will be marked by both triumphs and trials, and it is through these experiences that you will grow into the empathetic and effective healthcare professional that our communities desperately need. Each of you are on a unique path, but what unites you is a shared goal, and that is to make a positive impact in the lives of others. You are not just students, you are future advocates, caregivers, and innovators. Your passion for this field will drive advancements in healthcare, shape policies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Whether you aspire to be a nurse, athletic trainer, public health advocate, or a healthcare administrator, remember that the knowledge and skills you acquire here at Piedmont University will empower you to effect real change.

Honor, resilience and the road ahead

As you join this honor society, remember that it is not just about excelling in academics, you are becoming part of a community that values resilience, integrity, service, and a commitment to never quitting. I encourage you to lean on your peers, forge connections, share your stories, and lift each other up. As you support and inspire each other, you will achieve so much more than you can alone. 

In closing, I want to congratulate each of you on this significant achievement. You have earned your place here through hard work, resilience, and determination. You have shown that you have what it takes to face adversity and emerge triumphant. Embrace the challenges that lie ahead, for they will shape you into the healthcare leaders of tomorrow. Welcome to the honor society and thank you for your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Nursing leadership, veteran insight, and real-world success

Alex McNure’s journey — from nursing student and new father to deployed soldier, ER nurse, and now VA nursing manager — demonstrates the strength, resilience, and career readiness Piedmont nurses carry with them after graduation. His speech is a testament to the values embedded in Piedmont’s nursing program: academic rigor, faculty support, and a deep commitment to service.

Today, McNure leads multiple VA clinics across Georgia and South Carolina, guiding teams of nurses and expanding care for veterans. His advice to new nursing students and graduates is clear: stay open to unexpected opportunities, lean on your training, and never forget why you started.

Explore nursing with purpose at Piedmont University

Whether you’re called to bedside care, public health, leadership, or research, Piedmont University’s R.H. Daniel College of Nursing and Health Sciences prepares students to lead and serve. With real-world clinical experience, individualized faculty mentorship, and a powerful alumni network, Piedmont is helping shape the next generation of compassionate, capable healthcare professionals.Learn more about Piedmont’s nursing programs at piedmont.edu/nursing-health-sciences.