Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program
Alumni Spotlight
 Millar, his wife
Angie and daughter, Ely - now stationed in Europe with the United States |
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Hello! My name is Sam Millar...
Most people think of Las Vegas as a casino town in the midst of a dust bowl and desert, but Vegas is home for me. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, and I have family that still there. I also have an older brother in Virginia who recently retired from the Air Force. As well as being known as the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas is also the home of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team (like the Blue Angels of the Navy, only better). While in high school, I began attending the air shows and watching the Thunderbirds practice during the off-season. Because of this experience, I became fascinated with the Air Force. Not knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life, I figured I would travel the world, see new sights, and learn a trade figuring the Air Force would help me do this.
In the beginning of my senior year in High School, I enlisted into the Air Force delayed enlistment program and entered active duty shortly after graduation. I spent six weeks in San Antonio, Texas for basic training and another six weeks at technical school in Wichita Falls, Texas. I received my first assignment to RAF Bentwaters, England (now closed). Eight months after arriving I became a participant in the Gulf War…not exactly the world travels I had in mind but certainly witnessed new sights.
Over the course of the next several years the Air Force sent me to the San Francisco Bay area, then on to Saudi Arabia (Khobar Towers). After leaving Saudi Arabia, God smiled greatly upon me, and I went to the tropical beaches of Oahu, Hawaii where I was to endure 70-80 degree weather year round and warm water temperatures. The awe inspiring scenery made those three years rough, but I managed to survive.
It was in Hawaii that I first became interested in medicine and started taking courses at one of the local universities offering a degree in pre-medicine. I also started volunteering in one of the local emergency rooms to orient myself to the medical field. It was there that I found myself more interested in what the nurses were doing than the physicians and consequently changed my major to nursing.
Having a year of college behind me, the Air Force once again planned a move for me which would have placed me back in California and in an environment not conducive to education. Because of this, I decided to separate from active duty and go into the Colorado Air Force Reserve. Unfortunately, Colorado was not accepting anyone from my military career field at the time and being an out of state resident would have cost me a fortune in tuition. Plan B took me to the Wyoming Air National Guard, since the University of Wyoming offered nursing. This time was a success! I was accepted into the Air Guard and into the University of Wyoming School of Nursing.
Prior to starting classes, I talked to a senior nursing student about getting a part-time job while going to school. I remember being advised not to get any job whatsoever due to the demands of nursing school. However, I had rent and other bills to pay, so I took a gamble and decided to get a job anyway. I got a job at the Laramie Airport and found I was able to hold a part-time job while attending nursing school. I later discovered that the majority of my nursing class had part time jobs as well, so it can be done!
After beginning nursing school, I did find it to be very demanding and a lot of hard work. Believe me, I did had my share of frustration in the first semester. My first semester of school was also the time the school of nursing changed its grading policy making 75% the minimum for a passing grade.
At the end of my first semester and in poor health because of the flu, I took my finals and scored 74% in one class. Not passing! As a result, I could not continue on with my original class. The instructors would not adjust for the percentage and the petition I submitted to the dean to continue on in sequence was denied. After all the hard work I put into my studies that semester I was devastated, angry with the school of nursing, and frustrated that nothing could be done about the situation. In fact, I was so upset that I had taken advantage of my airline privileges, and flew to Arizona to check out the nursing program at the University of Arizona. Once in Arizona I had time to calm down and think of my options. Despite my demise, the fact remained that I was not out of the nursing program in Wyoming, and if I decided to go to the University of Arizona I would have had to apply and go through the entire process of being accepted. This was not an appealing option, plus the university was too big anyway. So, back to the snow covered, wind swept prairies of Wyoming I went.
Swallowing a healthy dose of pride I talked to my nursing academic advisor, who was a tremendous source of support, and registered for classes that were available to me. Since I had to re-take one class, some of the other classes were out of cycle. However, some of my other classes kept me with my original classmates. Facing these classmates (who knew I was out of cycle and what that meant) required an incredible amount of courage and was a completely humbling experience to say the least. Despite this, I was there to get an education and determined that nobody, not the dean, staff, or my peers was going to discourage me from doing so. This is not to say the staff was less than adequate. On the contrary, the staff was very professional, and showed a genuine concern for their students. However, the entire experience of that first semester ignited a fire to succeed and for the rest of the program I used that emotion as my driving force. The end result…I received my BSN!
Looking back at the events of that first semester with a somewhat cooler and wiser sense of reason, I have discovered that being taken out of cycle was a blessing in disguise. As a result, I was not under as much stress as my original and new classmates. In reality, because I was only able to take certain classes and not the full load, I was receiving a much better education (in my mind) than those students in sequence. I was not under stress, not overwhelmed, and able to soak in the material better, and I felt this made me a better nurse.
A month after graduation I began an entirely new education by getting married to a fantastic girl from Kentucky—Angie, who is a middle school teacher. One month after getting married I re-entered the active duty Air Force as a commissioned officer. I received an assignment to RAF Lakenheath, England. When I first arrived, I was assigned to work as an OB/L&D (obstetrics/labor & delivery) nurse, but now am a clinical nurse on a medical surgical ward. Two years later, on 12 May, 2005 we had a daughter, Ely April Millar.
Being an Air Force nurse has allowed me the opportunity to work in a number of different nursing capacities. As mentioned, I started my nursing career tri-qualified in OB/L&D and Nursery, then moved to the medical surgical floor. The Air Force is getting ready to move us again, this time we will more than likely be moving to Okinawa, Japan where I will be flying air-evacuation missions throughout the Pacific region.
I am enjoying a successful nursing career in the military and can attribute my success to the education I received from the University of Wyoming. The faculty was genuinely concerned about their students. They were reasonable, compassionate, and professional people who were interested in graduating top-notch nurses. It is from their experience and expertise that they instilled confidence in their students, both in the classroom and in the clinical environment. I could not have asked for a better group of instructors, and I honestly believe I would not be the nurse that I am today if not for the level of instruction and guidance I received from them.
As a result of the education I received from the University of Wyoming, I have had the greatest amount of confidence in taking care of White House personnel and combat casualties; I have used my learned skills in everything from pediatrics to geriatrics; I have served as the ACLS RN for critical care ambulance runs; I have been a preceptor to a number of nurses and reservists as well as to medical technicians; I have even taught a few nursing-related classes…and this is only my third year out of school!
To those in the nursing program and those considering the nursing program, here are a few words of wisdom that may be of help:
Believe in what you are doing and why you are doing it. Don’t be intimidated!
Know your limits. Nobody can give you wiser advice than yourself in this area.
If you truly have the will to accomplish something, perseverance will eventually prevail.
“It's not what you do that defines you. What defines you is how well you rise after you have fallen.”-author unknown.
Despite all the hard work, frustration, possible setbacks and disappointments, there was a means to an end. The time spent in school will be just a blip on the radar when all is said and done. With the right motivation, no goal is unattainable and obstacles can be overcome -- it just depends on your drive and how bad you want it. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
I am proof,
Sam Millar, RN, BSN…Class of 2002
“That which I conceive and believe, I achieve.”- author unknown.
page last reviewed 2/12/2007
Quick Links
Student Nurses Association (SNA)
Fay W. Whitney
School of Nursing
Dept. 3065
1000 E. University Avenue
Laramie WY 82071
Phone: (307) 766-4291
Fax: (307) 766-4294
nurs.inq@uwyo.edu
