It was a bleak, cold day in January 2011 when my husband broke the news. I tried to keep my composure as he spoke, but after hearing four words, the tears became uncontainable. One year. Deployment. Afghanistan.

In addition to his civilian job caring for our state’s veterans, my husband also is a nurse in the Army National Guard. He was assigned to a medical company deploying to an Afghan military base in November 2011.

After that derailing January day, I found an unexpected source of resilience, one that has helped carry me through his year-long absence. This strength lies within me, for I, too, am a nurse.

Nursing is an extraordinary profession that prepares us for anything. Our work ingrains in us so many fundamental life lessons that we use whether or not we are wearing scrubs: about the value of flexibility, seeking knowledge, good communication and patience.

Flexibility: As nurses, we know better than to expect our shifts to be without surprises and unexpected twists. Despite our best intentions, life is no different.

My husband and I knew deployment was a possibility. After acclimating to the news, my nursing instincts kicked in. I realized the situation was out of my control, so the best thing I could do was roll with the punches and make the most of it. I jotted down a list of different activities, such as cross-country skiing, that I wanted to try during the year.

Seeking knowledge: Nurses are taught to research what we do not know. We teach patients and families what to expect during an unfamiliar procedure. We mentor new staff members until they learn the ropes.

For me, adapting to my new reality meant that I went into preparation mode. I read books written by military wives about their husbands’ deployments. I attended the monthly meetings of the Family Readiness Group. Perhaps most importantly, my husband and I had numerous discussions on what to expect and what lay ahead.

Good communication: Our clinical experience teaches us how to streamline our report to the oncoming nurse, how to efficiently communicate with preoccupied physicians and how to broach difficult subjects with our weary patients.

These skills were put to good use during discussions with my husband about his impending deployment. I never thought that, at age 32, I would be discussing my husband’s funeral preferences. Or broaching the topic of remarrying if I am widowed. Other conversations were simpler but still important, such as how to turn the water main off or remembering to add gas stabilizer to the lawn mower in the fall.

Communication also has been the cornerstone of our relationship during his absence, the glue that holds us together while we are geographically separated.

Patience: How many times have we walked into a patient’s room to quickly check on IV fluids, only to have this lonely patient begin a conversation with us, eager to share some life stories with someone who will listen? Nurses exude patience every day when interacting with patients, nursing students, new graduates, physicians, family members, etc.

Patience has been vital during my husband’s deployment. Patience and understanding were necessary during the weeks leading up to his departure, as we both began to mentally disengage ourselves from each other. Patience has been essential during the time that passes between my husband’s calls. Patience has gotten me through being a "single mom" to our beloved dog. And patience will be vital during the reunion period, as we get to know each other again.

Clara Barton, the famed American Civil War nurse, said: "If I can’t be a soldier, I’ll help soldiers." That has been my mantra during the deployment. By drawing from the skills acquired during my clinical nursing career, I have faced the challenges. I have been able to help my soldier, because I am a nurse.