Cool Article on Terrorism and CRNAs

[jhawk07]

certified registered nurse anesthetists play pivotal role in u.s. efforts to combat worldwide terrorism

crnas deployed as part of operation iraqi freedom and operation enduring freedom provide most anesthetics to military personnel and area civilians

park ridge, ill. - certified registered nurse anesthetists (crnas), including active duty personnel and reservists, are the main anesthesia providers to american troops and area civilians during operation iraqi freedom and operation enduring freedom missions. statistics released in may from the u.s. pentagon indicate a total of 364 crnas and 77 anesthesiologists deployed as part of operation iraqi freedom from the army, navy and air force combined. numbers issued in october show 167 crnas and 46 anesthesiologists deployed from all military branches in iraq.

nurse anesthetists often practice without physician supervision, commanding the respect of active duty medical personnel who rely on them to make all anesthesia-related patient care decisions. a crna served as the only anesthesia provider during the dramatic rescue of army pfc. jessica lynch from an iraqi hospital during operation iraqi freedom.

historians speculate that u.s. nurses first provided anesthetics to soldiers during the civil war. formal u.s. deployment of nurse anesthetists dates back to world war i when american sophie gran winton received the french croix de guerre medal for her life-saving efforts at a mobile army hospital in chateau-thierry, france. nurse anesthetists also served as chief anesthesia providers during world war ii and the korean war, and played a significant role during the vietnam war, helping to develop new field equipment and serving in evacuation hospitals and aboard naval hospital ships.

deployed nurse anesthetists practice in a variety of circumstances and treat patient cases ranging from sports injuries and stress-related gastrointestinal disorders to gunshot and shrapnel wounds. maj. jeffrey roos, a crna stationed at ft. benning, ga., earned a bronze star from the army for his life-saving efforts during operation anaconda, the first major u.s. offensive launched in afghanistan after the september 11 attacks on the world trade center. one of two crnas on duty at a mobile combat support hospital in uzbekistan, roos and the surgical staff "operated for 72 straight hours and took 80 casualties."

"a lot of soldiers were trapped in the mountains for 24 hours. once troops got out of the mountains and away from the weather and enemy fire, we were able to patch them up and, within 72 hours, get them on planes to germany," he explained.

maj. adrienne hartgerink, an active duty crna stationed at langley air force base in virginia, served as the sole anesthesia provider to more than 1,000 u.s. peacekeeping troops during her tour of duty at a philippine army hospital in 2002. she also served as the anesthesia component of a 10-member small portable expeditionary aeromedical rapid response (spearr) team. though she treated mostly routine injuries, she recalls the day a terrorist's bomb forced her to use the mass casualty emergency skills gained during her spearr training.

"twenty five casualties were brought into our hospital with bomb-related injuries from wood and shrapnel. we're so lucky in the united states. it's not something we deal with day in and day out," she commented.

army reservists maj. c. ben campbell and his wife, lt. col. mary jane campbell of hot springs, ark., served as the sole anesthesia providers to the military and civilian population of eagle base in bosnia. called to active service in 2002, they practiced in a fixed facility and treated mainly sports-related injuries during their three-month tour of duty.

"our mission was peacekeeping so once the fighting stopped, there were long lulls where nothing happened. we had a basketball gym, football and soccer fields. when most of your military personnel are composed of 19 and 20 year-olds and they have all this free time, all they want to do is play football and basketball," explained ben campbell.

campbell, hartgerink and roos notice an increase in the length and frequency of deployments since the events of sept. 11, 2001. hartgerink says that naval deployments, which typically last 90 days, now extend to 120 days as the united states expands its military presence worldwide. indeed, two months after hartgerink's return from the philippines, her husband, bradley, a lieutenant commander at the naval medical center in portsmouth, va., received 24-hour notice to deploy to the persian gulf aboard the u.s.n.s. comfort, a navy hospital ship.

longer deployments mean longer absences from home, putting a strain on families left stateside. roos, a 16-year army officer, plans to retire from active service in four years to "give quality time to my family." ben and mary jane campbell, who plan to remain in the army reserves for the foreseeable future, needed to reassure their children about the safety of their mission to bosnia.

"they were concerned about our well-being. we explained that the reason we live in the country we live in and enjoy the freedoms that we do is because people sacrificed their lives," ben campbell said.

from world war i to the present war on terrorism, nurse anesthetists use their practice skills to serve their country. ben campbell said he and mary jane joined the army reserves because they "felt they had something to contribute." hartgerink and roos, who enjoy the camaraderie and practice autonomy of military service, consider it an honor and privilege to care for u.s. troops on deployment.

"the pride you feel in your country and knowing that people will go home to their families because of us is very satisfying. it renews your love of the military," said hartgerink.

"i feel proud to be a citizen of this country. to serve our soldiers, who put their lives down for us, and support their families is an extraordinary honor," echoed roos.

i love the usa!!!!