American’s Got Nurses Interview Article – Military Nurse

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How Old is the Profession of Military Nursing?

Military nursing has been around as long as there has been a military. With the first wounded on the battlefront, was the immediate realization that soldiers would fight longer and better if they knew there was medical assistance for their wounds.

Prior to 1901, however, nurses for the US military were either paid civilians or contracted volunteers. The military nurse became a permanent part of the military when the US Army began appointing civilian nurses into the Army Nurse Corps. The navy followed through in 1908 with their own nursing corps division. The air force was a part of the army until 1948. Once it separated into its own division, it also carried an Air Force Nurse Corps.

What is a Military Nurse?

A military nurse is a licensed nurse, with all the same training and duties as a civilian nurse, but one who also serves in the military and holds military rank. All the services currently have nursing branches, which are called the corps. A corps is a semi-independent or independent military command whose members are grouped together because they share a common mission or career focus.

Does a Military Nurse Work in the Battle Field?

There have been military nurses on the battlefront of every war fought by the US, but they also serve in times of peace. Military nurses serve a large variety of roles, including the care of soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen in tents, in forwarding surgical teams, as flight attendants and on ships. They work in fixed facilities, hospitals and clinics. They may work in case management, community health services and as immunization officials. They not only work for active servicemen, they also care for the families and retirees of all military branches.

Does a Military Nurse Hold Rank?

Military nurses hold rank in the same manner as all other members of the armed forces. A new nurse to the military holds the title of a second lieutenant or 0-1, in accordance with the branch of the nurse corps that they have been commissioned into. They work their way up through the ranks by completing career milestones and through a competitive process called a promotion board.

Are There Differences Between Military Nurses of Today and Those of Previous Eras?

According to former army nurse corps, Captain Donna Rowe, there are some basic differences between the nurses serving during Vietnam and the ones who are enrolled in the military now. She states that most of the military nurses during the Vietnam War were assigned to the war zone, not on bases statewide. “Ninety-nine percent of the nurses had boots on the ground,” she said. She also noted that during the Vietnam War, the average age of enlisted personnel was eighteen. Now it is age twenty-six.

It takes a lot of dedication and commitment to become a military nurse. It is a job that often requires a great deal of courage and a strong belief in service to your country. Military nurses often give their entire lives to the service of others and are remembered with respect and full honors when they pass away.