Maryville nursing students benefit from a wide range of real-world experiences that Assistant Professor of Nursing Demetruis M. Leonard, MSN, RN, ’13, brings to the classroom.
Maryville nursing students benefit from a wide range of real-world experiences that Assistant Professor of Nursing Demetruis M. Leonard, MSN, RN, ’13, brings to the classroom.
From a young age, Assistant Professor of Nursing Demetruis M. Leonard, MSN, RN, ’13, knew she wanted to be a nurse. For more than 25 years, she has carefully and thoughtfully climbed the nursing career ladder.
Leonard’s first step was to serve as a certified nursing assistant shortly after graduating from high school. It didn’t take her long to take the next step to become a licensed practical nurse. Then, to satisfy her “nursing nerd” craving, Leonard joined the U.S. Army in 2000.
“I wanted to see what it was like to be a nurse in the military,” she said. “I had no idea that 9/11 was about to happen and that I would actually go to war, or that it would end up being the best part of nursing I’ve ever experienced in my entire career.”
Leonard was deployed to Mosul, Iraq, as part of the 21st Combat Support Hospital. The unit was responsible for setting up the first field hospital, turning an open field of shoulder-height grass into a complex health care facility. Leonard provided health care for American soldiers and for detainees of interest to U.S. national security in the intensive care unit. Her deployment lasted 12 months.
“We were such a close-knit family, even though we were in Iraq during such a dangerous time,” Leonard said. “I saw so many tragedies. And we were bombed every night. But we put everything aside to be selfless and care for our patients. We still had to do our jobs.”
When Leonard returned to civilian life, she desired to continue her career in the ICU. She went back to school again, this time to obtain an associate degree to become a registered nurse. Later, she completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Maryville University. She then jumped across town to Webster University to complete her master’s degree in nursing because — at the time — Maryville didn’t offer the academic program she needed. (That has since been remedied. Today, there are five distinct MSN programs offered through Maryville Online.)
Most importantly, Leonard advanced her nursing career while raising four children, including the ultimate sacrifice of leaving her children behind during her deployment. Her youngest, a freshman in high school, has yet to fly the nest.
“I always wanted to set the example for my young African American children that we can do anything that we set our minds to,” she said. “I’ve always set the bar high because my children are following in my footsteps. I have to be that role model my children can look up to because this world is not always kind. Because for children of color, there’s not always that role model in their lives that they can do it. So I want to show my children it can be done.”
In 2018, Leonard joined the nursing faculty at Maryville. She teaches health assessment, where first-year students learn how to obtain a health history and complete a physical examination, and psychiatric mental health, where third-year students learn how to care for and manage patients with mental health diagnoses.
“It’s rewarding to work with students at the beginning of their journeys, when they’re fresh and ready, and then work with them again during their junior year,” Leonard said. “I get to witness their transformation and see how their skills and confidence have grown. They come to my mental health class saying, ‘We’ve made it to your class!’”
Now, Leonard is pursuing her doctorate in education through Maryville University’s online Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership Program. “This was my final goal,” she said. “I’ve done so much hands-on work with nursing that now it’s time for me to teach others what I know.”
Leonard’s real-world expertise has been especially beneficial for Maryville nursing students during the pandemic. The emotional and physical toll faced by health care workers over the last two years is immeasurable. But thanks to faculty like Leonard, Maryville nursing students are able to persist in their academic studies rather than take a step back.
“Nurses don’t stop,” Leonard said.“Our students understand how important their jobs are and they’re going full force ahead. They’re very proud to have attended clinicals and cared for patients throughout the pandemic. They’ve shown incredible perseverance and continue to put forth their best effort every day.”