PirateQ 
LaKynda Curtis and Leslie Roach
2 former service members among graduates pinned on Dec. 7
Caring for others is something near and dear to LaKynda Curtis’s heart.
Curtis, a U.S. Navy veteran, was the primary caregiver for her grandmother, Estelle Curtis, who passed away in 2008.
“Caregiving is where my heart is. I’m an only child and now take care of my 75-year-old mother (Caroline Curtis) since I lost my father last year,” said Curtis, who worked as a medical assistant for the Escambia County School District for 18 years. “As a nurse, I can help others when they need it the most – I’m looking forward to my new career.”
The Pensacola native has already accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Leslie Roach, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, also looks forward to helping others.
“As a nurse, I know that I can continue to serve others,” said the California native who relocated to Pensacola a few years ago.
“I wanted a change. Going to nursing school and becoming a nurse has allowed me to set a positive example for my 4-year-old son, Daveon. He is my greatest motivation.”
The two women were among 94 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing and Career Certificate in Practical Nursing graduates who were pinned at a 3 p.m. ceremony on Dec. 7 at First Pentecostal Church in Pensacola.
Morgan Talley, assistant director of nursing at HCA Florida West Hospital, was the guest speaker. He joined HCA Florida West Hospital in February 2020. Before joining HCA Florida West Hospital, Talley was the director of nursing at Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio.
“Nurses have always found ways to do things better and found out ways to improve things. I know you will, too,” Talley said as he spoke to the graduates about challenges, technological advances, and other changes in the healthcare field.
“… Please don’t forget that your patients are humans. Connect with your patients personally. Ask them if they have a dog or a cat. Ask them what their most recent vacation that they went on because they want to talk to you. They want to laugh, and they want to feel better because they’re scared. Some patients that you may have may be facing end-of-life decisions, or they may be about to deliver a baby, but there’s a high risk in that delivery. But the more you connect with them, the more you make things easier, and the better it is going to be for you.”
Talley, who has more than 23 years of critical care nursing and leadership experience, encouraged the graduates to join professional organizations. He has served in various roles and committees for local, state and national nursing organizations. He is an American Organization for Nursing Leadership committee member and one of the entity’s 2013 Nurse Manager Fellows.
Talley also was a 2022-2023 board member of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Alumni Association National Advisory Board. He will serve on the Escambia County School District Health Careers Program Advisory Board.
Talley earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in 2019.