Connect

On Friday, July 14, representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense paid a special visit to UVA Health to recognize Kris Blackstone, nurse manager, and Jessica McVey, assistant nurse manager, as recipients of the Patriot Award. This award reflects the efforts made by employers “to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.” Blackstone and McVey were nominated by Ashley Smith, RN, a travel nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).

“Nominating Kris and Jessica was an easy decision,” explains Smith, who enlisted in the Army National Guard at age 17 in 2009. “From the beginning of my contract, the MICU team has been outstanding and very understanding of my military schedule. They make me feel valued.” After completing one tour to Afghanistan on a Quick Reaction Force team, Smith commissioned as a Critical Care Nurse in the Army Reserves in 2019, and is currently the Company Commander of the 335th Medical Detachment out of Fort Story, Virginia. 

Smith says Blackstone and McVey’s support allows her to advance in both careers. “Balancing both careers can be challenging, especially as a travel nurse because the contract can be voided for many reasons. Having flexibility in my work schedule allows me to fulfill my military obligations without compromising my civilian job here at UVA. Their support displays a gold standard that all employers should follow.”

In her time at UVA, Smith has proved herself to be a true professional. “Ashley was always forthcoming with us, so we knew in advance what timeframes she needed,” recalls Blackstone. This openness helped her and McVey plan ahead and have the conversations with leadership that were necessary to get Smith’s schedule and contract extensions approved. 

Though the ceremony was a moment of pride for her unit, Blackstone says supporting the military is simply the right thing to do. “As a community and as Americans, we want to be able to support the needs of our military friends in their service,” says Blackstone, whose father was in the Navy. “It’s not me out there, it’s them. Whatever we can do to help them, the better.”