NMCSD Staff Celebrate 102nd Nurse Corps Birthday

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Berenguer, Naval Medical Center San Diego Public Affairs

May 14, 2010 - SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) celebrated 102 years of Navy Nurse Corps history May 13.

NMCSD commemorated the Navy Nurse Corps birthday with a cake cutting ceremony, and remarks by Commander, NMCSD, Rear Adm. Christine M. Bruzek-Kohler.

"Since assuming the duties as Commander, Navy Medicine West and Naval Medical Center San Diego, I have had the privilege to see many Navy nurses provide incredible nursing care and advocacy for their patients, while working to implement innovative approaches to make Navy Medicine the best it can be at home and forward deployed. I am so very proud of all of my fellow Navy nurses," said Bruzek-Kohler.

The Navy Nurse Corps was established May 13, 1908 when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Naval Appropriations Bill authorizing the establishment of the Nurse Corps as a unique Navy staff corps.

According to NMCSD's Director for Nursing Services, Capt. Kriste J. Grau, Navy and civilian nurses are essential to Navy Medicine's Force Health Protection mission - integrating compassion with discipline, individuality with conformity, and wellness promotion with wartime readiness.

"Today's Navy nurses are improving patient outcomes through knowledge and expertise. They are questioning traditional methods of care and assuring practice is evidence-based. They integrate research finding into professional practice. They have autonomy and unlimited growth opportunities. They are compassionate, caring nurses who make a difference every day by being present during life's most joyous and most difficult times," said Grau.

NMCSD nurses collaborate alongside doctors, corpsmen and other essential clinical staff to ensure that safe high quality care is consistently delivered to patients and their families.

"I am extremely proud to be a Navy nurse. I have been on active duty for 27 years. My first six years were enlisted, and I knew what I wanted to be - I wanted to become a Nurse Corps officer," said Cmdr. Brian L. McCann, senior nurse officer in the NMCSD Emergency Room. "I love being the Emergency Room division officer because it's so challenging, and I get to work with junior officers and mentor them to help their careers flourish. I am fortunate to work with individuals that are talented and willing to deploy to help heal those that have come into harm's way. I am so proud to be a part of that," said McCann.

Navy nurses are not just found at the bedside anymore. The Navy Nurse Corps has come to the aid of those in need by applying their skills both in and out of harm's way. Whether on the battlefield, on a ship, in a ward, or in military treatment facilities found on bases worldwide, the Navy Nurse Corps has supported our military members and their beneficiaries.

"I deployed to Haiti this past January. Assisting in the humanitarian missions has been my dream and passion and really the reason why I chose to go into the Navy Nurse Corps," said Lt. j.g. Natalie K. Shaffer, a registered nurse in NMCSD's Pediatric Inpatient Ward. "The day after the earthquake I was thinking about how amazing it would be to have the opportunity to go, and two days later I got a call from my chain of command saying that my name came up for the mission. I got the call on Friday and left on Monday. We were assigned to the USS Bataan that Wednesday and had a mass casualty arrival of 30 patients within hours of landing on the ship," said Shaffer.

The ceremony recognizes and pays tribute to the many Navy nurses who have proudly served this country over the past 102 years. Their expertise and leadership has ensured that the nation's military health is maintained.

McCann said the type of dedication that Navy nurses show is really the "spirit of Navy Nursing" that empowers them to shape the future of Navy Medicine. The NMCSD celebration of the 102nd Navy Nurse Corps birthday recognized the innovative medical advances that have been made, and was also a time for reflection on those that have blazed the trail for today's Navy nurses.