Retired Navy Nurse Alice Bova ’74 Reflects on Her Experiences for Veterans Day
In commemoration of Veterans Day, a time to honor those who have served honorably in the military, Alice Bova ’74 BSN, MSN, retired RN and Commander, Navy Nurse Corps, shared memories and reflections of her career and education as a Villanova student nurse.
Bova served as an urgent care flight nurse during Operation Desert Storm, 1990-91.
CDR Bova served as an active-duty Navy Nurse through 1998, gaining experience in nearly every field of nursing, in the United States and overseas, advancing to increasing levels of management. She provided patient care in operating rooms, labor and delivery, post-anesthesia care (formerly called the recovery room), emergency rooms/departments and critical care, covering neonatal, medical surgical, trauma, open heart and pediatric units as well as outpatient cardiac, gastrointestinal and pulmonary clinics.
After completing the Flight Nurse Program at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, in 1990, Bova became an urgent care flight nurse. She flew in long-distance medevacs throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including a 13-month tour during Operation Desert Storm when she was based at the Naval Branch Health Clinic Diego Garcia.
Bova’s final active-duty position was as Department Head for Nursing Professional Development at the Portsmouth, Va., Naval Medical Center. She continued her career in South Carolina with various roles clinical nursing, teaching and research until her retirement in 2022
Why did you decide to pursue a Nursing degree and a military career?
From as early as elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. My mother's sister was a nurse and would regale me with stories such as sterilizing needles to reuse them and many other tales. I was fascinated. I also read many books on women who were nurses, including, of course, Florence Nightingale and her activities during the Crimean War, and then in the 20th century, the actions of Army nurses in WWI and WWII.
I decided I would be an Army nurse and work in a MASH unit. Unfortunately, I still had to go to Nursing school. I landed at Villanova where the Navy Nurse Candidate Program was available. One day in my sophomore year, my roommate Chris Bruzek-Kohler ’74 BSN and I went into Philadelphia and signed up.
Alice Bova (center) with classmates Pat Severino ’74 BSN (left) and Antoinette “Tosia” Hazlett ’74 BSN in 1972
What was your favorite experience at Villanova and/or with Villanova Nursing?
Overall, the faculty was amazing. Two names stand out after all these years:
- Myrtle Feigenberg: She taught nutrition. I will always remember an exercise she taught where we calculated and analyzed (over the course of one week) everything we ate. I have used the lessons learned in her class all my life.
- Theresa Christian: She taught pharmacology. Her method for presenting and remembering the many varied drugs classifications and categories helped me not only remember but always understand pharmacology. I continued to use those lessons when I eventually became faculty at a local South Carolina Nursing program.
Other than Nursing, I participated in two other activities that I loved. I was a freshman cheerleader and was so happy to be reunited with my squad at our 50th reunion this past June. I was also in the Villanova Band, playing the trumpet for all four years. We played at basketball games, following the team to tournaments in New Orleans and Notre Dame and performed as a marching band at all the home and away football games. I still am in contact with my bandmates, meeting for our own reunions periodically and at the 30th and 50th reunions at VU.
Bova (front, left) and classmates celebrated their 50th Reunion on campus this past June.
Bova (far right)
How did Villanova Nursing prepare you for the military?
Bova (red top, 2017) regularly participates in the Veterans Day parade with local Navy Nurse Corps Association.
First, I felt as prepared as I could be in all the specialty areas of nursing, allowing me to be flexible and adapt to any assignment the Navy sent me to. We were expected to be a jack-of-all-trades. For example, my first overseas assignment was at a very small hospital in Iceland where we provided care to all patients, all ages, including helping in the pharmacy and operating room, teaching Lamaze, etc.
Second, I benefited from the example of teaching provided by our Villanova faculty. A Navy nurse was expected to teach and train Navy Corpsmen who, in many cases, provided the direct care while we, as officers, managed the units, wrote evaluations and oversaw all the care provided.
Do you have a favorite memory of your service?
Bova participates in a medevac in 1991.
I truly loved every duty station I was assigned to while serving, even if the assignment was not what I wanted. When I joined, my goal was to be assigned a hospital ship off the coast of Vietnam. I did not get that request, but many years later, I was able to become a Flight Nurse during Desert Storm. Overall, I loved my overseas tours the best: Iceland, the Philippines, Diego Garcia. I served in three oceans: Atlantic, Pacific and Indian. The challenges at each were unique, and I was never bored. I felt that overseas I was able to use everything I ever learned. Why? Because we were somewhat or very isolated and needed to work together and utilize everyone's strengths, knowledge and skills. We were allowed—and expected—to do what we needed to do to get the job done.
Do you have any reflections you'd like to share to commemorate Veterans Day?
Bova’s parents and daughter joined her at her retirement ceremony in December 1997.
Military nursing provided so many nursing and leadership opportunities that I would never have had access to otherwise. My message to the younger nurses and student nurses has always been: Do not be afraid to walk through a new door when one is presented to you. Do not be discouraged when you do not get what you want or think you want. This unwanted role/job may be the biggest or best opportunity you could not have imagined. Never be afraid to be "the new kid on the block"; that is, do not be afraid to start anew in a different specialty of nursing, to be the one who has to ask questions. The newness will keep you fresh and always learning.
As late as my mid-60s, I was still branching out into new nursing areas, specifically school nursing. This was nowhere on my radar, but because the military had given me so many chances to change and learn new knowledge and skills, I was able to excel and came to love this unexpected new way to nurse.
Many times, the learning curve at a new job was steep, and I was not always confident, but I was determined to be the best I could be. There were some tough times, but the other thing about the military is that there is a built-in support group. When you are away from home, the military community where you are assigned becomes your new home—your new family.