Every Veteran’s Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. Service in the military is built on a foundation of selflessness, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to caring for others, even in challenging, sometimes chaotic conditions.

For many veterans, their call to serve and live these values doesn’t end when they retire, it just takes on a new form. At Galen College of Nursing, there’s no better example of this than U.S. Navy veteran Rebecca Baldassare, who recently graduated with her Associate Degree in Nursing.

Baldassarre achieved her degree despite pausing school to raise two young children, and then resumed her studies while raising them on her own as her husband remained on active duty. All throughout, Baldassarre served as a shining example of putting others before herself and exemplifying what it means to be a compassionate nurse.  

Rebecca Baldassarre made a promise that she was determined to keep.

Her adopted uncle, Raymond Womack, was spending his final days in the hospital. One of Womack’s last wishes was to see Rebecca become a nurse in the United States.

“It was the toughest week of my life,” Baldassarre said. “I promised him when I come back (to Washington state), I will be a nurse, just like he wanted.”

Back in 2013, life was different for Baldassarre. She had just finished her bachelor’s of science in nursing degree in her native Phillippines, and was preparing for a nursing career in her homeland. At the same time, her aunt Jinky Womack and uncle Raymond, a U.S. Army veteran, were in the process of officially adopting her and getting her a green card to live with them in the U.S. That came in January 2014, and Baldassarre packed up her bags and moved to Washington state. By October of that year, after a certified nursing assistant course at a local community college in the Seattle suburbs, she decided to follow some of her classmates, and her adoptive uncle’s footsteps, and enlist in the military. In Baldassarre’s case, it was the U.S. Navy.

Baldassarre served for 5 years as an E-5 Petty Officer Second Class, serving as a Boatswain Mate. She served on the USS Winston Churchill, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, out of Norfolk, VA and the USS Hue City, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser out of Naval Station Mayport, just outside of Jacksonville, Fla. As a Boatswain Mate, Baldassarre led young Sailors in various maintenance and operational jobs to keep the boats in tip-top shape for duty. Boatswain Mates must be great leaders, excellent at fixing a variety of issues, and master sailors.

Her career in the Navy took her all over the world, from the East Coast and West Coast of the U.S., to England, Spain, Greece, Italy, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. It’s even where she met her husband, Thomas Baldassarre, an E-7 Chief Petty Officer who works in the Information Technology unit out of Norfolk, Va. She also received her U.S. citizenship on her last day of U.S. Navy boot camp.

But Baldassarre knew that her future was back in the U.S., After leaving active duty in 2019 and losing Womack in 2020, Baldassarre, who was stationed with her husband in Tampa Bay, Fla. at the time, researched nursing schools to attend, and quickly settled on Galen.

“I thought this was the school for me. I read the reviews, it was very nice, and everyone was really accommodating and friendly, so I enrolled. It was all online, I did my pre-requisites, and six months later I got pregnant, so I stopped.”

Baldassarre and her husband had tried in previous years to start a family, without success. So when she finally became pregnant, she decided to pause school. Baldassarre eventually gave birth to a son, Matteo, followed by another pregnancy and a second son, Noah. Once her boys were old enough, Baldassarre, now living in Miami with her husband’s family, decided to go back to Galen, this time on the Miami/Pembroke Pines campus.

While pursuing her degree, Baldassarre looked to get involved in student organizations. She joined the Student Advisory Committee, Student Ambassadors, Galen Student Nurses Association, and was instrumental in helping start a Student Veterans Association on campus. It brought her much needed familiarity, support, and a sense of purpose.

“It made me feel like I was in a military community again,” Baldassare said. “In the military, I know it can be chaotic but there’s a brotherhood, but it’s a tight relationship. Once you’re there it’s like a family all the time and I love that about it. Whenever you have problems or conflicts, you resolve it together, because there’s no other way.”

She was also inspired to volunteer and see if she could complete clinical assignments at local Veterans Affairs medical facilities, so she could give back to fellow veterans who were receiving care.

“I like talking to them because they sacrificed so much of their life,” Baldassare said, adding that her experience with older veterans has inspired her to strive to become a nurse practitioner for adult and geriatric patients. “I want to give back and let them know they’re not alone. My dada (Raymond), he had PTSD and the stories he told me, I can’t believe he went through that. Telling him you’re not alone, it’s okay not to be okay and I’m here to listen. Whatever you feel, you’re safe.”

Baldassarre identified with Galen’s ICARE Compassionately values.

“That’s what drew me into nursing and that’s why I went back, because that’s one of my values in life, compassion. It’s really important to have a genuine human connection, especially in this field, because it really builds you up, to care for people in this field because they really need it.

“Rebecca was amazing,” Miami/Pembroke Pines Campus Engagement Specialist Chasity Mena said. “I can honestly say she did not miss an event. She has two little boys, and she did not miss an event. She did not hesitate to volunteer her time, her services. She was always there, always a pleasure to work with, very on top of things.”

In December 2024, Baldassarre was honored with a Daisy Award, which is given to nurses who go above and beyond to care for their patients. Baldassarre’s nomination stated her “unwavering commitment to building trust and fostering meaningful connections reflects the highest standards of nursing care, making her a deserving candidate for the DAISY Award.”

“When I won, I cried,” Baldassarre said. “I called my husband right away and said I can’t believe it, this is one of my dreams, This is the best day ever. My dreams are literally coming true in front of me. It’s surreal to me, even until now, I can’t believe that I got it. That made me realize, that g-d is turning everything around because I was in my deepest, darkest moments befor,e and then when I went and looked up and realized, this is what dada (Raymond Womack) wants me to do. I feel like this is what I was born to do, and I’m going to do it well. I promised myself, whatever I do in life, even the littlest things, I wlll always do my best, because in the end, that’s all that matters, that you tried and did your best, you didn’t give up. That’s for me one of my values too. I didn’t do things just because what’s going to come in return, I do it because that’s what I love.

“I promised myself to strive even more to be a better person and a better nurse and I will do all that I can do be the good nurse and be deserving of the award. I will live up to that title. I will not take that for granted.”

At Galen, we are proud to be a nursing college that military veterans choose to pursue their nursing education. Our tremendous faculty and staff help all of our students overcome challenges, find a sense of belonging at Galen, and help them realize their best selves as compassionate, talented nurses.

Baldassare entered Galen and encountered different obstacles to her education. But she never gave up, and now can officially celebrate with her degree, and an RN next to her name after passing the NCLEX test.

Along with our Miami campus, we have active Student Veterans Associations at multiple other Galen campuses, including in San Antonio, Texas. With hundreds of active duty and retired military veterans attending Galen, you can find your small military community at any of our campuses across the nation.

If you are an active duty member or military veteran, Galen College of Nursing can help you on your way to becoming an RN. We offer numerous degree paths with multiple start times during the year for new nurses like yourself.

Consider our PN/VN diploma program, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, and 3-year Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) program. Check your local campus location on our website to see which degrees they offer on-site!