U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Lindsay Bender has been accepted into the Uniformed Services University Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Doctor of Nursing Practice Program beginning in March. Bender, who served at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was selected for this advanced program due to her demonstrated leadership and commitment to military mental health services.
During her time at Walter Reed, Bender served as Assistant Service Chief of a 20-bed medical-surgical unit, leading more than 60 military and civilian personnel. This role was typically reserved for O-3 or higher ranking individuals and GS-12 positions. Bender also served as a Patient Safety Advisor and “Super User” for MHS GENESIS, the Department of Defense’s new electronic health records system, contributing to staff proficiency and linking traditional practices with new technology. She led efforts to revamp nursing workflows for lab specimen handling across the directorate, improving policies and increasing scanning compliance rates among nursing staff.
Bender’s passion for mental health advocacy was fueled by her personal experiences and observations throughout her military career. “Throughout my career, I have encountered various stigmas and barriers toward seeking mental health care, which has fueled my passion for advocacy for change,” she explained. Her military service spans 14 years and two branches, beginning with her service as a Marine Corps instrumentalist and transitioning through the Navy’s Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program before her commission into the Navy Nurse Corps in 2021.
Bender expressed her commitment to serving the military mental health community through her studies, stating: “I hope to be an advocate for change and another person in the fight to increase mental health services for service members. The opportunity to attend USUHS and receive a top-quality education is life-changing, and I’m extremely grateful.” She has since begun her educational journey in the USU Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/466662/former-walter-reed-navy-nurse-and-savage-minnesota-native-accepted-into-usu-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner-program