CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2022 - 24

24
A L UMNI
Four Questions
with Lieutenant
Colonel Christopher
H. Stucky, BSN
Class of 2001
IN HIS OWN WORDS
L
ieutenant Colonel Christopher H. Stucky,
PhD, RN, CNOR, CSSM, CNAMB, RN-BC,
NEA-BC discusses CU, his career, and his
nursing inspirations.
Q: WHAT DREW YOU TO NURSING?
My mother and grandmother were both
nurses, so I was familiar with the role.
My mother was a nurse practitioner, and
I distinctly remember being amazed at the complexity and
importance of her job.
My first professional exposure to nursing was while serving
as an active-duty surgical technologist in the US Army.
Working closely with perioperative nurses on interprofessional
surgical teams, I developed a deep respect for the
nursing role. I became keenly aware of the impact perioperative
nurses can have on optimal patient health and
surgical outcomes. During this time, I served with several
great perioperative nursing mentors who encouraged and
motivated me to attend nursing school.
Q: WHAT WAS YOUR TIME LIKE AT CU?
I first heard about the University of Colorado College
of Nursing while stationed at Fitzsimons Army Medical
Center. An employee at the post-education office gave
me a flyer about the nursing program and photocopied a
list of the prerequisites and admission requirements. As
a nontraditional student, I tediously fulfilled the school
prerequisites after work, one class at a time.
I attended CU from 1999-2001 when the College of
Nursing was located at Ninth Avenue and Colorado
Colonel
Christopher
H. Stucky,
PhD, RN,
CNOR, CSSM,
CNAMB, RNBC,
NEA-BC
Boulevard in Denver and known as the University of
Colorado Health Sciences Center. My CU experience was
different from most, as I attended college as an active-duty
soldier under the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program
(AECP). I thought the curriculum was very challenging and
exciting. The rigorous education and clinical rotations at
the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Medical
Center of Aurora and other local hospitals gave me an
advantage over others and prepared me to excel early in
my career as a nurse.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred shortly after I graduated
from CU, which profoundly impacted my career.
I view my time at CU Nursing as " the calm before the
storm, " as those events heavily influenced my career
moving forward.
I am a current student in the College's Veteran and Military
Health Care (VMHC) post-graduate certificate program.
Colonel (Retired) Mona Pearl Treyball has developed a
very innovative curriculum concerning a vulnerable patient
population: veterans and military service members.
Even though I have extensive experience providing care
to active-duty military patients, I realized that I did not
have a clear understanding of the unique issues service
members face once they leave the military and enter the
civilian world. The education that I have received in the
CU College of Nursing | Spring/Summer 2022
CU Nursing - Spring/Summer 2022

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