FST Experience

Editorial Team / Moderator · Oct 5, 2015

I was deployed for 9 months as the ER nurse with an FST attached to an ODA team in a remote location in Afghanistan. It was an amazing experience! I think the best advice I can give you is that trauma truly is a team sport, and communication is key. TeamSTEPPS for real. Also, no one is too good to do any task that will ensure the wellbeing of the team. As an example, I pumped diesel fuel and fueled heaters in the middle of the night to ensure our latrines and laundry facilities didn't freeze during the ice and snow season; this duty was shared by everyone, from E-4s to O-5s.

Congratulations and good luck!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2015

If this is an active duty FST push to have your deltas at the hospital working on a regular basis. The Army and their wisdom will assign some very inexperienced ones to a CSH & FST. On the battlefield is not the time for this training. Even your experience d ones need to go to keep their skills up or their experience might only be with a CSH or FST and really are not as well rounded as they should be even if they are a SSG. You will more than likely get push back from the command since they really do not understand or care for the most part since they believe soldier skills (which are important with a FST) or picking up trash are more important then technical skills. Two to three days a week is all they need to be in the OR to keep skills up and work as a team with your CRNA, your self, techs, and any doctors assigned to your team. If it is a reserve FST it will be alot harder to ensure your techs are trained to the level they need to be. Remember that bullet catcher on the table does not care if your techs has all the skills to be a 11B, all they care about is that they know how to do their job to save lives. The Army will give a good talk about training of its medical folks but they do not provide it. Depending on where you are assigned you might work as hospital staff and only go to the team when they have specific training. Other teams you will spend most of your team with the team.

It can be a hard fight to get your techs trained, I know I fought for 3 years and now the CSH I was assigned to is deploying with techs who have not seen a OR since phase 2. FST's can also get techs straight out of school.

williams84 · Oct 6, 2015

It's definitely a reserve FST, and we are lacking most of our enlisted positions. We shall see what comes up in the next few months. I, myself, have to attend BOLC in the beginning of 2016.

ORNurse1 · May 4, 2016

I just recently transferred into a FST unit, what should I expect, learn and know as the only 66E?

williams84 · May 4, 2016

ORNurse1,

How long have you been a 66E? I have been commissioned for a little less than a year. My experience has been limited to about 5 drill weekends and BOLC. We have spent most of that time filling vacant positions and doing little classes on medical training. What my leadership has recommended to me is to brush up on the types of instruments and equipment the unit has, what kinds of cases we primarily see, and getting certified (BLS, ACLS, PALS, CNOR, etc.). A big part of your job is making sure that your team (68Ds) are working on staying current. Many of them may not work in the OR on the civilian side. That bothers me for FSTs, but I do my best to work with what I have. I hope this helps a little. I was blessed to fall into a unit that has strong officers who have deployed with each other a few times. I'm the only new piece, so it's easier for me to adjust to their style. Maybe you have experienced leaders that you can tap into? If not, keep in touch with me and I'll help where I can.

ORNurse1 · May 4, 2016

Williams84,

I was commissioned 2 1/2 years ago, however I was in a MSU as a 66H that was a few miles from my home. I got promoted out so I had to find a unit that had a 66E open and the closets was 157 miles from home. I have been in the OR for almost 19 years, started as a scrub tech then nurse. I have my BLS, ACLS, PALS, CNOR and RNFA. Currently the unit does not have any 68Ds, getting one soon fresh out of school. I enjoy teaching in the OR so that won't be an issue. My questions are what are my main duties, how do I access info on equipment and supplies we should have, and any other information I don't know I need.

Thanks for for the information.

williams84 · May 4, 2016

I have no idea on any of that stuff, but I'm pretty sure I'll be finding out the hard way soon enough. Most of what I have been up to lately is trying to get all of my collateral duty schools in.

imageortho · May 4, 2016

Hello, I am brand new to this thread so I had a couple of questions:

I started my Navy Reserve Nurse application last october (in Texas) and the review board is still processing my application. My application is a little different than other in that I have been an OPA-C for 6 years and a BSN for 2 years. I am not sure what rank they will bring me in at and what they will have me doing since I First assist in the OR now.(I drape, assist the surgeon intraoperative, suture, and put the dressing on).

I am being brought in as a peri op nurse but my recruiter, and 2 interview have told me that my skills will be utilized more intraoperative since they are always in need of a good pair of hands who know what the procedure is. I am mainly in ortho/trauma but have done some OB/GYN.

My questions are:

1. What will my duties be?

2. Likelyhood of deployment? Does that mean overseas or stateside?

3. Being a male OR nurse, what are my chances of advancing quickly as an officer?

4. What will drill weekend be like? Is it just admin stuff or will i be working with corpsman in trying to teach others?