Navy Nurse Emphasizes Importance of Nursing in Psychiatric Health

By the Health.mil Staff

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Pam Wall, former program director for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Adult Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program recently discussed the role of nurses in delivering mental health care to wounded veterans.  Wall, speaking with “Need to Know,” a PBS TV and web newsmagazine, said her goal is to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health problems and mental health care.  She also emphasized the connection between nursing care and mental health care.

“One of the advantages of nursing is that because we are always with the patients I think it helps us to readily identify some mental health issues maybe before another person is able to identify it,” she said.

Wall was at the University of Pennsylvania, where she and her colleague, Lt. Cmdr. Sean Convoy, also a member of the Navy Nurse Corps and current director of the USUHS program, taught a class on post-traumatic stress disorder. Speaking with the nursing students, both Wall and Convoy emphasized the unique stresses faced by service members and the role nurses play in helping them get the psychological care they need.

This Day in Naval History - April 16

From the Navy News Service

1863 - Union gunboats pass Confederate batteries at Vicksburg.

1924 - Navy commences relief operations in Mississippi Valley floods, lasting until June 16.

1947 - Act of Congress gives Navy Nurse Corps members commissioned rank.

1959 - Helicopters from USS Edisto (AGB 2) begin rescue operations in Montevideo, Uruguay. By April 26, they had carried 277 flood victims to safety.

USNH GTMO Nurses Get Certified in Trauma Nursing

By Stacey Byington, U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Nurses from U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay (USNH GTMO) completed a the three-day Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) March 29, offered for the first time at GTMO.

Participating in the course were Capt. Kristen Atterbury, Cmdr. Carol Hurley, Lt. Cmdr. Herman Jenkins, Lt. Marisol Armora, and Lt. Eric Dunbar. Training to become certified instructors were Lt. Erica Arnold and Lt j.g. Terry Francis.

Documented data has revealed that traumatic injury is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 45. The TNCC is designed to help nurses, essential to a trauma team, use a systematic and standardized approach to care for an injured patient. The course director was Cmdr. Linda Nash, USNH GTMO Emergency Room department head, who has been a trauma nursing instructor for many years, and helped bring the course to GTMO.

"TNCC is an important course, promoting mission readiness for all levels of military nurses," said Nash. "It gives nurses a foundation in the assessment and care of trauma patients, across the age span (neonate to geriatrics). Nurses in all branches of the military are required to have this course as an introduction to trauma care prior to deployments."

The TNCC was developed by members of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) as a means of identifying a standardized body of trauma nursing knowledge.

Nash, a 23-year Navy veteran, and a nurse for 33 years, has been nationally certified through the ENA in emergency nursing since 1980, and has worked in emergency departments and operational settings almost her entire career, including a two-year assignment with Fleet Surgical Team 6, and a three-year tour as the senior nurse on USNS Comfort. She became a TNCC director in 2000.

"TNCC is important to GTMO because it is an isolated forward deployed duty station," added Nash. "It is surrounded by territories and countries that have high

vulnerability assessments for natural disasters. We only have to look at what happened in Haiti during its earthquake. Earthquakes, mud slides, flooding and hurricanes are prevalent in the SOUTHCOM region of operations. In the event of another natural disaster in the Caribbean region, personnel from USNH GTMO would immediately be called to action."

"Navy nurses are assignable and deployable worldwide , and must maintain operational readiness," said Atterbury, USNH GTMO's director of Nursing Services. "We are fortunate to have a TNCC program here which helps prepare our nurses to respond to a variety of traumatic medical situations."

The course included instruction on initial assessment, shock, brain and cranial trauma, burn traumas, and injuries to other parts of the body. Half of the training was straight classroom going through the various sections of the training manual. The second half of the course was devoted to practical skill stations, where the participants were provided various trauma situations, and had to demonstrate identified skill requirements.

The core competencies that are universal to any trauma are referred to the A-B-Cs of trauma care: Airway with c-spine, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (neuro), Expose/Environment, Full set of vitals, Five interventions, Family presence, Give comfort, History (head-to-toe), and Inspect the back.

Arnold, one of the instructor candidates, said she took the opportunity to train as one of the course instructors because it would help expand the course to other nurses assigned to the hospital in GTMO.

"The course demonstrates a systematic approach to trauma nursing care that every nurse can apply," said Arnold. "My instructor certification ensures more nurses will be able to complete their [trauma] certification leading to a maintained state of readiness, and prepare them for that time when a trauma patient comes through our doors."

"The class was a great review and the instructors were very enthusiastic," said Hurley. "It is very important that our nurses are trained in basic trauma response because of situations they may have to respond to in this isolated location."

Certified Nurses Recognized at Naval Hospital Bremerton

By Douglas H. Stutz, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) recognized Certified Nurses Day March 19 by acknowledging the professional credibility, achievement and improved patient care of staff members with nursing certification.

"It takes a lot of work, dedication and commitment to become a certified nurse," said Capt. Iris Boehnke, Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) director of Nursing Services, noting that there are 64 nurses at NHB out of 169 who have achieved their certification. "We have almost 38 percent of our staff certified, which is almost double the national average of less than 20 percent."

Lt. Cmdr Cherri Vilhauer was specifically honored for holding the longest certification tenure of 22 years as an operating room nurse, and Cmdr. Thecly Scott for holding the most certifications with four in electronic fetal monitoring, inpatient obstetrics, nurse midwife, and women's health nurse practitioner.

"I extend congratulations to everyone who has gone above and beyond for their certification. We all benefit, especially our patients. Certified nurses improve on our overall quality, safety and patient care," said Capt. Christopher Culp, NHB commanding officer.

The date is testimony to the enduring legacy of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles, doctor of education, registered nurse and Fellowship of American Academy Nursing (1903-2005). March 19 is Styles' birthday, and she became known as the 'Mother of Nurse Credentialing' and a visionary scholar who made an international impact on the nursing profession.

"Today is Certified Nurses Day, " said Cmdr. Doug Stephens, officer-in-charge of The David R. Ray Health Center at Naval Branch Health Center EverettI owe a lot to the nurses that got me where I am today. The thousands of certified nurses in the U.S. today and the growing role of certification in contributing to better patient outcomes are a lasting testament to Styles legacy. So, have a great day and thank you for everything that you do every day."

According to Lt. Cmdr. David J. McIntire, NHB Critical Care department head, registered nurse, BSN (Bachelor's of Science in Nursing), CCRN (adult critical care nursing), board certification of nurses plays an increasingly important role in the assurance of high standards of care for patients and their loved ones. Nursing, like health care in general has become increasingly complex. While a registered nurse license provides entry to general nursing practice, the knowledge-intensive requirements of modern nursing require extensive education, as well as a strong personal commitment to excellence by the nurse.

"Becoming a certified nurse is proof you know your profession and certification in specific fields varies but not by much," said Lt. Cmdr. Geoffrey Plant, of NHB's Family Medicine and board certified in medical-surgical nursing.

Plant achieved his certification approximately 10 years ago, which has to be renewed every five years. The initial eligibility criteria in Plant's field requires a nurse to hold a current, active registered nurse (RN) license within a state or territory of the U.S. or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country; have practiced the equivalent of two years full-time as an RN; have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in the specialty area of medical-surgical nursing within the last three years; and have completed 30 hours of continuing education in medical-surgical nursing within the last three years.

"After putting in the hard work, then electing to get tested on your knowledge and competency and then passing the test really proves in an objective way that you know your job," Plant said.

There are 28 certifications in specific nursing fields held by staff members at NHB, including adult clinical nurse specialist, adult registered nurse practitioner, ambulatory perianesthesia nurse, case management, critical care nurse, electronic fetal monitoring, emergency room nursing, family nurse practitioner, gastroenterology nurse, infection control and epidemiology, inpatient obstetrics, lactation consultant, lactation educator, legal nurse consultant, maternal newborn nursing, medical-surgical nurse, neonatal intensive care nurse, nurse midwife, occupational health nurse specialist, operating Room nurse, pediatric emergency nurse, pediatric nurse practitioner, post anesthesia care nursing, professional in healthcare quality, professional in utilization review, registered nurse anesthetists, women's health nurse practitioner and wound ostomy continence nurse.

Navy Medicine is a global healthcare network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

This Day in Naval History - Aug. 18

From the Navy News Service

1838 - Exploring Expedition under Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise.

1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed.

1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong.

1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis (AMGR 1) in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin six days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights).

Don't forget the history and sacrifices of American heroes; discover these Vietnam veteran books where our heroes tell you their story.

This Day in Naval History - March 08

From the Navy News Service

1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry opens treaty negotiations with Japan.

1862 - Ironclad ram CSS Virginia destroys USS Cumberland and USS Congress.

1945 - Phyllis Daley, assigned to the Navy Nurse Corps, becomes the first African-American ensign.

1958 - Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB 64) is decommissioned, leaving the Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1895.

1965 - The 7th Fleet lands the first major Marine Corps units in South Vietnam at Danang.