Rarely discussed side of nursing

[grv68]

Thought I infuse some history here on a seldom discussed part of nursing...few people realize that both female and male RNs have served with distinction in the military in our country. I admit my own ignorance about the role of military nurses in other countries but I am sure those nurses exist.

Below is a link to an article on Cpt. Maria Ortiz KIA in Iraq

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.memorial19jul19,0,4204922.story?track=rss

We know Florence Nightengale tended aid to soldiers of the Crimean War and was recognized by the British public for her efforts.

The American poet Walt Whitman served as a nurse tending to the wounded in the Civil War while searching for his brother. Male nurses have an equally long and proud tradition. The Civil War remains our most costly conflict in terms of human loss: 620,000 to 700,000 died, mostly of infection, starvation and shock.

There are a few books on the role of nurses serving in the World Wars, Vietnam and Korea. I list some related to WW2 but there are others for other conflicts.

Sorry for the unintentional bolding. Emphasis in not intentional.

They Call Them Angels: Military Nurses of Military Nurses in World War II, Kathi Jackson

No Time to Fear: the Voices of American Military Nurses in World War II, by Diane Burke Fessler

And If I Perish: Frontline US Army Nurses in World War 2 by Evelyn Monahan who also wrote "All This Hell: US Nurses Imprisoned by the Japanese"

We Band of Angels: The Untold Story of American Nurses Trapped on Bataan by the Japanese by Elizabeth Norman

There is a memorial to these nurses in DC. Note that these nurses were unarmed and tended to both American and foreign wounded and were subjected to rape, torture, sniper fire, and other horrors.

Many received military decorations, full burial honors, and the support and petitions from the men in the many units during and after their respective wars when they came home.

The image that crosses my mind is cross fire that shatters those old glass IV bottles.

[bigsyis]

I used to work with an RN in the ER who had been an Army nurse in Vietnam. She was one of the best, coolest-under-pressure-kind-to-the-patients-no-matter-what, Nurses I have EVER seen.

[Crux1024]

Its amazing when you think about it. History is soo rich and full of knowledge and stories of hope! It makes me proud to be joing such a noble profession...

[steelcityrn, RN]

nothing but respect for those who serve the country as nurses!

[puggymae]

I work with several faculty members who served as nurses in the Gulf War, others served in Vietnam.

Some of the stories that they share with us sound like they came right out of MASH. Other stories make me profoundly glad that I was not a military nurse. However, all of their stories make my heart swell with pride for the women and men who serve our country as nurses.

[bagladyrn, RN]

Another good book by a Viet Nam war nurse - "The Healer's War" by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough. It's based on her experiences as a nurse in-country in Viet Nam during the war.

[psalm, RN]

"A Piece of My Heart" highlights the stories of mostly nurses who were in Vietnam during the war. My head nurse (when I was a medic in the Army in the 70s) is featured.

[Neveranurseagain, RN]

How could you forget nurses in the military? What about "Hot Lips Hoolohan" from MASH? I live in CA, and a military recruiter (that got my name/info from state board nursing) has called me several times to join...get mail from military all the time to join and serve as an RN.