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Editor’s Note
: Save the dates and join the fun for Rebel reunion: the rebels return October 18-22! Among the many events is the annual Alumni Awards Dinner, which recognizes outstanding individuals who represent the ideals of higher education and rebel pride. Here is one of this year’s winners.
Gregory Peistrup
’94 BS Nursing
School of Nursing Graduate of the Year
The word “hero” has been used a lot throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to medical professionals who selflessly fought him on the front lines. What most of us forget is that these individuals were heroes long before the arrival of this devastating virus, and they will continue to be so long after it is eradicated.
No one understands this better than Kristin Bell-Peistrup, whose husband discovered a passion for nursing as a medic in the US Army, then devoted the next three decades of his life to saving the lives of others. as a nurse practitioner and registered nurse who worked in emergency rooms in southern Nevada. Tragically, Gregory Peistrup tested positive for COVID-19 in early September 2020 and died 12 days later despite being in good physical shape with no underlying conditions.
The fact that Peistrup almost certainly contracted the virus while treating a patient positive for COVID underlines his heroism.
“Being able to put your fears aside and take action no matter what – that was Greg,” Bell-Peistrup said. “As a result, he saved and impacted so many lives.”
Peistrup found the way to UNLV Nursing Program after being honorably demobilized following his service as a medic for the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment of the United States Army, a troop known as the “Iron Dukes”. He went on to work in various roles as a nurse, but was truly at home in the ER, where he was able to deploy his wide range of skills and where his genuine empathy and quick-wittedness was heartwarming for patients, regardless of their location. their affections. .
“He loved the frenetic pace of emergencies – he spoke fast and his brain worked even faster, and that quick thinking and acting was fundamental in emergencies,” Bell-Peistrup said. “He also loved to take advantage of his vast applications of medicine – in the emergency room you never know what might come through the door, so he was constantly on the lookout for learning opportunities, whether in the classroom or in the classroom. clinical. New drug, new modalities, new cases – they all challenged his brilliant mind. “
And as countless nursing colleagues would surely attest, Peistrup’s willingness to offer support has not stopped at the bedside.
“Greg has really flourished in helping others,” says Bell-Peistrup. “He loved not only helping patients but also guiding others in healthcare to be their best. “
Bell-Peistrup offers additional information about her late husband:
What prompted Greg to join the military?
Like many young men, he was unsure of what direction to take his life after graduating from high school. He loved the opportunities the military could offer him – tactical and professional training, travel, and the camaraderie that the military offered. His time in the military is what first exposed him to medicine. From that moment her passion for nursing flared up and she only grew fervently throughout her life.
Explain how Greg embodied the phrase “Courage Conquers,” which was the motto of his Army Battalion.
Greg didn’t seem to be really afraid of anything. In fact, his courage and adventurous spirit have given rise to many cool hobbies and experiences. He was a rider, diver, golfer, climber, archer, skier, snowboarder, marksman, and he traveled the world.
Professionally, he was always the type to raise his hand for a certification or an opportunity to learn new things. I often joked with him about the number of letters that followed his name – it was MSN, APRN, ENP-C, FNP-C, AWEP, and EMS-RN.
What would Greg say to the UNLV student who is considering pursuing a career as a nurse but might be a little hesitant?
It looks like you never know until you try. Then he would talk to them to see if he could help them determine how medicine and the medical field had sparked their passion. It would also likely explain the different opportunities available to nursing graduates and what those positions might look like – for example, working in emergency versus intensive care, or working in health care at home, in a clinic, etc. .
At the same time, it would be very realistic about the challenges and possible obstacles that the student might encounter so that he can prepare, anticipate and overcome these challenges.
How do you think Greg would have reacted upon learning that he had been named the School of Nursing Alumnus of the Year?
In short, honored. He would love to be able to represent his profession, his colleagues and the university, and happy to know that the sacrifices he and all members of the medical community make are recognized and appreciated. He would also appreciate it if it meant greater visibility for the UNLV nursing program and would be proud to have been a part of it – and it has always been a part of him.
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