Military nursing in Iraq and Germany

[Ilsa]

http://www.nursingspectrum.com/iraq/

This site has a four part series of articles, multimedia, and photos of nursing the wounded in Iraq, transport to Landstuhl. The articles are written for Nurseweek magazine. It tends to be very "up" and from the nurses' perspective. I thought some of the other nurses and medical professionals might appreciate this.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. passing this onto my daughter who is a nurse and has given serious thought

to military nursing

[Ilsa]

2. I think these articles play up the best side of military nursing.

If she likes cutting-edge stuff, she might be better off in a large city with a medical school with lots of research to observe. I wish her luck.

She might enjoy military nursing. But I've also heard it's hard to make changes to routines and patient care. Everyone I've ever talked to that was an OB patient in a military hospital said that they were at least ten years behind current care models.

[GoldenOldie]

5. Military Nurses who work in combat areas or military hospitals are ANGELS

The military nurses working in Iraq, Afghanistan and Landstuhl are the Angels to our injured and dying troops. They all are or will shortly become the top trauma nurses in our military as well as in our Nation. The experiences these nurses learn from caring for battlefield injuries could never be taught in a Stateside college or hospital. The military nurses that are serving Stateside in the military facilities such as Walter Reed and Bethesda that will continue the care and rehabilitation of these troops also will surpass any training or experience our civilian nurses of today will receive because the military patient will remain with them for weeks and months before being released. Unlike our civilian hospitals where a serious trauma patient is now being released within a short time and then maybe to a rehabilitation hospitals or homecare.

I worked and played with military nurses in an administrative position for 12-years. All of these nurses were of the Vietnam era and they often held parties or events honoring the WWII military nurses and I had the greatest opportunity of listening to them all tell of their experiences. They laughed and they cried together and they had a comaraderie that was a joy to see. Many of them were still carrying their memories of their WWII, Korea, and Vietnam patients with them.

[Ilsa]

6. I know they are angels. Please don't doubt that.

The nurses of the Vietnam era inspired me to become a nurse when pay was still poor and conditions difficult. I was only speaking to that certain aspect of care that doesn't have anything to do with the battlefield, such as obstetrics nursing, and specialties not related to trauma. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Sounds awesome

Both of my great-aunts were military nurses in WW2. One is now in the nursing home and the other had passed away. I'm sure they had great stories to tell too. I always love listening to other people's life stories. Especially those who were in the military and war.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. From the article, it appears there is a high rate of wounded

passing through the AF hospital. An eye opener.

[unhappycamper]

4. Landstuhl is usually the first out-of-country stop for WIA.

I don't doubt the dedication and sacrifice these men and women make to heal our our soldiers. The pics on this site kinda gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

For a little more reality, a trip down the memoryhole is required. The following URL shows a few of our 13,500+ wounded and maimed soldiers. CAUTION- contains some VERY graphic pictures:

http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/wounded/gallery.htm

I don't think an oil war is worth this much pain.

[Ilsa]

7. It is a site

for licensed nurses. So I bet it is designed for the "warm-fuzzies". I don't think there is a nursing magazine or journal I've ever subscribed to that didn't try a little of that. I'm not sure why they do that though. I don't need my profession gussied-up to make me feel better. Do you think it is a recruiting attempt?

I'm going to go check out the memory hole gallery. Thanks for the link!

[unhappycamper]

8. I'd be very interested in your take on thememoryhole. n/t

[Ilsa]

9. Wow! Awesome pictures!

Very important to have pics like that available. People need to see the real price of wat in terms of human flesh, not just dollar signs. .

[unhappycamper]

11. IMHO, the wounded and maimed are the worst costs of this illegal war.

How many Iraqis suffer the same fate?

[w8liftinglady]

10. We need to keep this in the forefront...

Democrats need to focus on veteran and soldier post-war issues-like health care,ptsd,and employment-while maintaining their anti-war stance.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

13. What a find Unhappy. I've been in critical care nsg for 10yrs

and tho' I'd like to think I could handle a challenge
I'm not sure I could deal with infinitesimal human destruction
for less than reasonable objectives without going mad.

we nurses are all trained to adapt or improvise as needed, indeed these folks are a special breed. I hope these professionals are getting the psychological support they need to carry on.
They must be from this articles point of view, but I suppose
time will tell.