Serving Others as Jesus Did – Air Force Veteran, Justin Rudd’s Nursing Journey
Air Force Veteran, Justin Rudd, whose mom instilled in him an interest in medicine at a young age, joined the military without any clear direction of what job he would be assigned to. While in basic training Justin was lined up to be an Air Force medic, which refueled his passion for medicine. After years in the military, Justin continued his journey through a new path, joining Jessup University’s first nursing program cohort.
With an extensive range of medical practices through the military, Justin gained hands-on experience that provided him with a unique insight upon joining Jessup’s program. Detailing his experience, Justin explains, “I was an Air Force medic for about six years prior to getting out of active duty. Then another three years after that, while I was in the program, I was also with the International Guard, so I had a long background in medicine. It was something I was passionate about, something I enjoyed. I remember going on my first 911 call and just feeling like I was about to make a difference and I was able to do something that helped other people and I was really proud.”
Previously stationed in Yokota Air Base in Japan, among other locations around the world, Justin settled in the Sacramento area after meeting his wife, who also graduated from Jessup University. He explains, “I learned about Jessup and the nursing program through her because she graduated through the MACP (Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology) program. I wanted something more Christ-focused and Jessup was perfect for that.”
Like many nursing students, it’s moments of impact in Justin’s personal life that fueled his calling in nursing. He shares, “I’ve had a couple friends who passed away young. One from diabetes and then another from drug addiction. It was cool to get to work with the diabetes population in the Air Force and then after I got out [of the Air Force] I worked as an LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) for a couple of years at a drug and alcohol center in Sacramento.” In the midst of those experiences that hit so close to home, Justin reflects on how it all aligns with God’s purpose, saying, “it’s funny how God works. He often puts us in places that He had a purpose for [without us knowing] and led us through it and helped us so that we could make a difference in people’s lives.”
If Justin could describe the nursing program in one word, it would be “caring.” He details how the word is all-encompassing because of the nature of nursing itself, which is to care for others, but also because Jessup instilled that same focus in each student. “My fellow cohort members were very caring towards one another and my professors were very caring in the way that they engaged with the students. For certain, they were very attentive to our needs and what they felt was going to make us the best possible nurses and the best possible humans to go into the profession of nursing.”
While the faculty and his classmates were supportive, there were certainly moments in the program that brought challenges and stretched each student as they built their skills. That’s why, when considering prospective Jessup nursing students, Justin says he “would challenge them to make sure it’s something that they’re called to and something they are passionate about. Not just in the sense that they want to do nursing but in what that means and how to care for people, because if you come in with the mentality of that being your calling and looking at it from a Christ-like focus then you have all the more opportunity to grow when you enter a program that’s going to foster and grow that even further.”
That challenge isn’t a deterrent, but it ensures that those who are called into the field are set up for success right from the start because they know they are where they’re meant to be. “Having a foundation for your ‘why’ is really important when you enter a program that is potentially going to be hard in nature,” Justin further explains, “So, being able to have the fortitude to say ‘this is why I’m going to do this, this is where I’m coming from’ is important. Having that drive and focus is key and instrumental in how you approach learning.”
It was that “why” that got Justin to this moment–a moment of acknowledging his hard work and making history as part of Jessup’s first graduating nursing cohort and passing his NCLEX exam to become a Registered Nurse. This accomplishment, however, doesn’t change Justin’s perspective on what nursing is all about – serving others. Through the program, he reflected on John 13:1-17, which details when Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. He explains, “What I was trying to remind myself was that at the heart of nursing there’s humility and making sure that you are there to take care of others. I think it’s wonderful to be in a profession that so closely aligns with Jesus’ message in that moment of how we are meant to serve and care for one another. Our God is not afraid to show that we are valuable, we are important, we are loved and that nobody is above someone else and we are all meant to serve one another.”
If you feel called to serve others through a career in nursing, please visit jessup.edu/academics/majors-programs/undergrad/nursing/ or email us at admissions@jessup.edu.
