You know you are a military nurse when you attempt to administer care by looking through the lens of a gas mask. You know you are a military nurse when you smell JP-4 coming thourth the heating vents of the shelter you are working in. You know you are a military nurse when you begin to jerry rig a life saving piece of equipment to continue to function while waiting for a supplies to arrive. You know you are a military nurse when you realize the charcoal in your MOP gear filters all body o... Read More ››

Although I am new to nursing, having graduated with my ADN in 2009, and am anticipating to graduate with my BSN in May 2011, I am also new to the military. In the summer of 2009 I joined the Army's ANCP (Army Nurse Candidate Program). I am extremely excited to begin my career both as a nurse and as an Army officer (1st LT) this upcoming spring. Having 4 children and 1 granddaughter made nursing school a challenge at this stage of my life, but with the support of my wonderful husband, it has b... Read More ››

you haVE WALKED ACROSS THE Atlantic ocean many times while caring for 60 patients. They were a combination of war injuries,8month gestation with complicatons,infants with anomalies,psychiatric patients,etc. we only had 2 nurses and 3 med techs Read More ››

It was my first time as a charge nurse of a med-surge unit. I had just come from an assignment as a flight nurse. When I asked a staff nurse to "check on the patients in the aft hallway", she gave me a confused look. Then I realized I wasn't in an aircraft anymore! Read More ››

you appricate the following: rooms with in wall plumming, wiring and windows, not having to carry a weapon to the bathroom/shower room as well as not getting stuck there when the Mortar Attack siren goes off... giving report, the PMHx includes the Theater your patient was injuried in and includes acryonms such as but not limited to; MRAP, IED, MTOW or IOTV. while taking care of a patient you can distinguish the difference between 155mm going hot or incoming rounds landing near your buildi... Read More ››

You'll know you're a military nurse when at the end of your career and after retirement you have time to step back and look at at the past 20 or so years and fully realize the path your nursing career has taken you. You started out as a brand new 2Lt, still wet behind the ears, and proud as a peacock to be wearing an Air Force nursing uniform. Little did I realize then that over the next 17 years I would learn, see, and accomplish things that I had never even begun to visualize for my life. I... Read More ››

...it's zero dark early in the morning sitting in a portable tent hospital that has no running water, gas generators that loose power in a matter of seconds, and beds that are filled with wounded soldiers awaiting air transportation to Germany for medical treatment. Without all the amenities of even the worst hotel accomidations, your patients cannot thank you enough for the simpliest act of kindness. This is where I learned that the power of being a great nurse is just "being there" for your pa... Read More ››

...you have a 19 year-old US Marine with an above-the-knee amputation in one room and an Afghani terrorist with an abdominal gunshot wound in another... and you STILL provide your same high-quality nursing care to both individuals. Read More ››