After profound loss, Facey found strength, purpose in nursing

After profound loss, Facey found strength, purpose in nursing

Kim Chaudoin | 04/13/2026

When Trever Facey walks into the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, he enters a place where patients are critically ill, families are overwhelmed and the stakes are high.

It is exactly where he feels called to be.

"I was drawn to the profession because it allows me to be a light in some of the darkest moments people experience," said Facey, a December 2024 Lipscomb University Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate. "Especially in the ICU, where patients are critically ill and families are often overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty, nursing gives me the opportunity to love and serve others in a meaningful way."

Now working as a registered nurse in Vanderbilt's SICU and also serving as open lab staff for Lipscomb's School of Nursing, Facey said his path into nursing has always been tied to something deeper than a career.

"I believe God uses our vocation as a way to serve others for His glory," he said.

That belief is one of the reasons he chose Lipscomb for nursing school. Facey said he was drawn not only to the university's Christ-centered approach, but also to the culture he found within the School of Nursing.

"I chose the Lipscomb University School of Nursing (LUSON) because of its intentional integration of faith into nursing, which was very important to me," he said. "I was also drawn to the strong sense of community. LUSON is very family-oriented and genuinely cares about its students beyond academics."

That sense of care became deeply personal during Facey's first semester in Lipscomb's program. What began as the start of nursing school quickly became one of the hardest seasons of his life. Within one month, Facey lost his father to suicide and his grandfather to cancer.

"It was an incredibly difficult season, and there were times when I didn't feel capable of moving forward," said the Woodland, California, native. "During that time, LUSON truly carried me - supporting me not only academically, but personally and emotionally as well. My cohort showed me immense love and compassion, walking alongside me all the way to graduation."

But, what could have ended his journey instead reshaped it.

"Though my experience was marked by hardship, it also shaped me in profound ways," said Facey. "I learned a great deal about perseverance, resilience and who I am. I am deeply grateful that I continued, and I am proud of where I am today in my calling as a nurse."

That experience also transformed his faith. Facey said the losses he endured challenged "everything I thought I knew" and forced him to wrestle with grief in a way that changed his understanding of God.

"My faith was deeply tested during my time at Lipscomb," he said. "It felt as though my old understanding of faith had to be stripped away. Through that process, the Lord built a new, deeper faith within me, one that has been refined through trial."

"I came to understand more of God's heart as I leaned on Him during my darkest days," Facey continued. "Because of what I've experienced, I now have a deeper perspective on life and a more personal understanding of God as a Father-something I did not fully grasp before my loss."

That deepened faith now informs the way he cares for patients.

Facey said one of the things he values most about nursing is the opportunity to care for people from all backgrounds, regardless of their race, beliefs or circumstances, while reflecting Christ's love through his actions.

"I felt a strong calling in my heart to pursue nursing. I was drawn to the profession because it allows me to be a light in some of the darkest moments people experience," he explained, "especially in the ICU, where patients are critically ill and families are often overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty. Nursing gives me the opportunity to love and serve others in a meaningful way."

He said he is also energized by the clinical demands of working in a Level 1 trauma center, where high-acuity patients require sharp critical thinking and a deep understanding of physiology and pharmacology.

Lipscomb, he said, helped prepare him well for that environment. He points especially to the School of Nursing's hands-on learning approach and lab simulations, which placed students in realistic clinical scenarios and helped him learn to think quickly under pressure.

"Those experiences strengthened my ability to think critically and respond quickly," Facey said. "Through them I was also exposed to a wide variety of patient populations, which helped guide me toward the specialty I wanted to pursue. Additionally, my clinical coordinators were incredibly supportive and intentional throughout my time at LUSON."

Even after graduation, Facey's connection to Lipscomb has remained strong. By continuing to serve as open lab staff in the School of Nursing, he now helps support students who are walking the same halls and preparing for the same profession that shaped him.

In December, he was also selected to speak at Lipscomb's nursing pinning ceremony, where he encouraged graduates to hold tightly to resilience in both their faith and their profession.
"I reminded graduates that we serve a Savior, Jesus, who understands suffering deeply. Even knowing He would raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus still wept alongside those who were grieving," said Facey.

"I also reminded them that nursing is not an easy profession-there will be difficult days and challenging circumstances. However, the Lord is present and willing to guide, strengthen, and teach us if we turn to Him. Even in the midst of pain, suffering and uncertainty, this life is still worth living, and our work as nurses has profound purpose."

That belief continues to shape not only how Facey practices nursing now, but his future career path in health care. He said his long-term goal is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), a path he said is deeply personal as he wants to honor his father and grandfather through this work.

"After losing my father and grandfather, I experienced firsthand the depth of pain that illness and loss can bring," he said. "While I couldn't take away their suffering, I am motivated to help ease the pain of others in the future."

Learn more about Lipscomb University's School of Nursing