Originally Posted by military girl Just what exactly are those THINGS that you can perform that RNs can't legally? Seems to me you are opening yourself up to alot of liability, except iF you are doing those THINGS under the license of a RN. Sounds very suspicious to me.\
We're protected by the US Govt. We are EXPECTED to be able to do sutures, IVs, IV drips, passing meds(independently w/ USMC or under Dr/Rn supervision in a hospital), ABGs, amongst other procedures, sure you get the idea.
W/ the USMC, they send US not real dr's (the Marines call us 'DOC' though, an honor at that) into the battle zone, the dr's are usually back in the rear or at the medical tent(like MASH).
If we get stationed at a hospital though, we have to be monitored although once a dr or RN gets to know us and our quality of care, they say 'go ahead' and will take the fall should something go awry.
On ships, a corpsman is the pharmacy tech, controlling NARCs, etc. We do have dr's and HCA who do med inventories on us so don't fret. I was an optician so a lot of times I had to do refractions from time to time when someone lost their only pair of glasses.
Once we get out, we can do as much as a CNA! Go figure. It's a great learning experience being a HM(hospital corpsman).
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