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Jay McKinney, Emergency Department – United States Navy (1990 – 2010)

Jay’s military and professional careers were influenced by his parents.  His father served in the Army National Guard and his mother was a licensed practical nurse (LPN).  Jay, grew up in Licking County, had many family members who also served in the military, and he felt it was the natural course to take after high school.  Jay wanted to get out of Ohio and see the world, and enlisted in the United States Navy upon graduating from Lakewood High School in 1990.

Jay became a Navy Seabee – a nickname given to enlisted Navy personnel as well as officers and enlisted who are assigned to the Naval Construction Force.  Jay was assigned to the Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, stationed in Port Hueneme, California, as an equipment operator.  His unit traveled the world providing general engineering, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and Joint Operational forces through planned deployments and contingency response.

His first deployment was to Adak, Alaska, where he operated equipment to help build and maintain roads in the area.  Over the next several years, Jay’s battalion would provide construction support overseas to military and civilian facilities in locations such as Iwakuni, Japan, Vieques, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Kuwait.  In 1992, Jay’s unit was re-deployed to Homestead, Florida, to provide recovery assistance after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area.  He also spent two years stationed at Anacostia Naval Station in Washington, D.C., providing construction support to military facilities.

After 10 years of active duty, Jay joined the Naval Reserves and used his veterans benefits to attend Central Ohio Technical College.  While he was attending school, Jay began working at Licking Memorial Hospital as a transporter in the Emergency Department (ED).  He earned his LPN certificate in 2001, transitioned to a registered nurse in 2005 and currently works in the ED.  “One thing I have learned from my time in the Navy that has stuck with me is to take pride in the uniform you wear,” Jay said.  “Whether it is scrubs or dress blues, it is important to maintain your uniform to make sure you always look clean and presentable.”

Jay retired from the Navy in 2010 as Chief Petty Officer and attributes his organizational and leadership skills he acquired for his success as an LPN.  “The Navy taught me to always prepare for the next step.  Know what you need and anticipate when you are going to need it,” said Jay.  “If I know there is a patient coming into the ED and there are certain supplies that will be utilized, I make sure to get them ready ahead of time.”  Jay incorporates the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment into his work at LMH every day by meeting the demands of his job and adhering to a high standard of personal and professional conduct.  Jay treats his co-workers and patients with the care and respect they deserve and is committed to working as a team to improve the health of the community.

| Posted On : 11/10/2020 9:21:51 AM