Michael Henry was born with a servant’s heart, one which motivated him to sign up for the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) when he entered college at Eastern Kentucky University. He couldn’t know how his decision to sign up for ROTC would change his life, and the lives of so many others.
Fulfilling His Duty
In December of 2014, newly commissioned officer, Second Lieutenant Henry, stepped onto Fort Hood Military Base. Fort Hood is a U.S. Army military post in Killeen, Texas — located between Austin and Waco — and plays home to multiple units with varying specialties of the U.S. Army.
Lt. Henry found himself in the role of all-source intelligence officer while stationed at Fort Hood. “It was my job to determine security threats and remedy those threats by putting a plan in place.
I was directed to coordinate with all of our intelligence resources and maintain a high level of threat awareness,” said Henry.
Lt. Henry yearned to deploy. When it became clear that his first unit was not scheduled to go overseas any time soon, he called the next brigade scheduled to deploy and joined them.
The Call to Serve
While Michael, now a First Lieutenant, was stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a suicide bomber infiltrated the base and detonated an explosive.
“Many soldiers were injured, and a couple were killed. We had received basic combat medical training, but I still felt helpless and that stuck with me.”
As his thoughts turned to what he would do after his tour ended, Michael remembered that day at the base. “Seeing the aftermath of the attack ignited my passion for medical care,” he said.
After his tour ended, Michael joined his wife, Joanna, in Knoxville, where he began searching for a position in the medical field.
A New Field
It was during a conversation with a recruiter with The University of Tennessee Medical Center that he learned about the Nurse Assistant Apprentice Program.
This program offers people with no medical experience a way to start in the field. Michael joined the medical center team in 2018.
“The great thing about UT Medical Center is how patient focused we are,” said Michael. “It doesn’t matter what your role is, we all put the patient first. We want our patient’s experience to be second to none.”
“I want to pursue nursing education someday,” he said, “and the apprenticeship gave me a foundation to build on.”
The on-the-job training program pairs classroom education with practical application. Once an apprentice completes training, they have the opportunity to be hired into a full-time position.
“The great thing about UT Medical Center is how patient-focused we are,” said Michael. “It doesn’t matter what your role is, we all put the patient first. We want our patient’s experience to be second to none.”
Putting Patients First
After completing the Nurse Assistant Apprentice Program, Michael began his full-time position as a nurse technician. He serves on a Medical Surgical floor, and enjoys the variety of patients and learning opportunities the job brings. Medical Surgical units care for adult patients who are acutely ill with a wide variety of medical issues or are recovering from surgery.
“It’s great to be on this unit,” said Michael. “Our team is like a family, and this role gives me the chance to learn, while making a difference.”
As a nursing technician, Michael monitors vital signs, assists nurses on the unit and helps patients with basic needs.
Nursing Supervisor, Jessica Flanary, BSN, RN, said, “Michael is always ready to serve. He’s an excellent addition to our unit. We strive to provide the best patient care, and he plays an important role in that.”
Nursing Technician Clinical Ladder
The University of Tennessee Medical Center introduced the Nurse Technician Clinical Ladder in 2019, which provides a unique opportunity for growth and career advancement in that role.
“The most important thing is to remember the impact we have on our patients,” said Michael. From helping someone take a bath, to assisting the nurse in changing someone’s wound dressing, to just having a conversation, we all have a part to play.”
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