Photo By Chief Petty Officer Patrick Grieco | NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (June 1, 2015) —Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Nick Richards,...... read more read more
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Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Nick Richards, an alumnus of Wichita High School Northwest, assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), thrives from life challenges.
Richards will depart Ford in mid-July to begin the Medical Service In Service Procurement Program (MSC IPP), allowing him to commission as a physician’s assistant in the Navy’s Medical Corps. It’s a challenging program, but Richards is no stranger to challenges.
Richards said he learned the importance of hard work, stress management, education and family life from his parents. Even when he entered the Navy, Richards said his only thought was how to be a good provider and an example to his kids.
When Richards graduated from boot camp, his wife was five months pregnant. In the middle of his initial apprenticeship school he became a father.
“I did night shifts with the baby, helping her out while studying at the same time. I still graduated at the top-of-my class.”
Richards’ love of science initially attracted him to the Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) rating, but a manpower realignment forced him to make a new career choice. A previous experience with hospital corpsmen (HM) during Hurricane Francis made the choice an easy one.
“I went to sleep and woke up three hours later, and my eye felt like it was on fire,” he explained. He didn’t realize the wind had blown a small metal shard in his eye. “Turns out the metal carved up my cornea, and the HMs would later tell me my cornea was gone, and they were trying to save my eye. All the care a nd attention I got made a lasting impression on me.”
Following graduation from HM school, Richards went to Navy laboratory technician school. He graduated simultaneously from the follow-on Navy school and George Washington University.
“My dream job is doing clinical research,” said Richards. “The person is sick, and you help determine what they have, what medication will work, and tell the provider what course of action would be best.”
If Richards could leave any message to Sailors out there he wants them to know he can relate to them, that he’s been in their shoes.
“When people ask me for advice, I just enjoy telling the younger guys and girls my story. I want them to know if I can get through it all, they can too. There is no limit.”
“We are proud to have one of our team selected,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sheena Hinds, of Ford Medical. “Richards is like a brother to us, and we are excited for him.”
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2016 21:29 |
| Story ID: | 194248 |
| Location: | NEWPORT NEWS, VA, US |
| Hometown: | WICHITA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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