From National Guardsman to Nurse: Zachary Gamba’s Journey to a Career in Healthcare

Zachary Gamba, a native of Summerville, SC, graduated from Francis Marion University on Friday with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This February, he’ll begin his career as a nurse in the behavioral health emergency room at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

After graduating from Summerville High School in 2019, Gamba was uncertain about his career path. He joined the National Guard to help pay for college, a decision that also revealed his passion for helping others.

“When I graduated high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” says Gamba. “I joined the National Guard as a way to earn money to pay for my education and became a combat medic. I chose this field because of the skills that could transfer out of the military. I also began working as an EMS technician during this time before beginning my education to become a nurse.”

Gamba began his collegiate career at a technical college in the Lowcountry, but soon made the decision to transfer to FMU in 2021. The renowned nursing program’s reputation, coupled with small class sizes and personalized attention from faculty, made the decision to transfer an easy one. 

He is grateful to the nursing program for not only enabling him to make a positive impact on people’s lives within the community, but also inspiring his interest in the behavioral health side of nursing. He knows his education and clinical experiences have prepared him for this role.

“The nursing program is very structured and challenging, and has taught me how to think critically and use clinical judgement,” says Gamba. “On top of that, I have learned so many things outside of the classroom like how to manage my time and stress effectively that will help me as I serve as both a nurse and National Guardsman.”  

As a Healthcare Specialist with the S.C. National Guard, Gamba honed medical skills that directly translate to his nursing career. In his role serving with the 1-118th Light Infantry from Charleston, he focuses on combat readiness and medical support, and plays a vital role in ensuring the well-being of his fellow soldiers. An E4 Specialist, he recently reenlisted. He will take his knowledge and clinical experiences with him as he continues his service.

During his time at FMU, he had clinical experiences that helped him find his niche in behavioral health emergency care. He did rotations at McLeod Health in Florence and Cheraw and at MUSC in Florence. As a preceptor in the Emergency Room at McLeod Health in Cheraw during his final semester, he knew he had found the area that interested him most. 

“I really appreciated the opportunity to take part in so many clinical experiences,” says Gamba. “Not only did I get to learn in a few different hospitals, I was also exposed to nursing at places like the Lee Correctional Institution. These experiences really highlighted how versatile nursing is as a field.”

Outside of the classroom, Gamba embraced campus life as an active member of the university’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Initially shy when he first moved to campus, he credits joining a fraternity and living on campus with helping him build new friendships and break out of his shell. He even served as the health and safety officer for his fraternity for a year and participated in many community service events, deepening his connection to the community.

With graduation behind him, Gamba is looking forward to meeting his next milestone – taking the NCLEX, a task he feels very well-prepared for given FMU’s 100% pass rate. Before beginning his full-time job in February, he plans to take some time to travel. Most of all, he’s looking forward to putting everything he has worked for these last few years into practice.

“I know the education I’ve received at FMU and the tight-knit community we have in nursing has prepared me to make a real difference in people’s lives.”