November 11 is Veteran's Day. Our nation is war weary after over a decade of intense conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other designated places around the world. Yet we still must pause on this day to give special thanks to all the Americans who have served our country in the armed forces-both the living and deceased. We will also remember those who are still actively serving and who put their lives in peril every day for a collective freedom.
Occasionally, in all the news stories and books written about war, we hear about the nurses who serve. In my November 2007 editorial, I wrote about Captain Maria Ines Ortiz, the first army nurse to die in the line of duty in Iraq. I also quoted from the memoirs of Susie King Taylor, an army nurse during the Civil War who explained why she continued to go to the battlefield to care for soldiers.1 Military nurses are special.
The Army Nursing Team Creed states the following:
"We honor our professional practice standards and live the Soldier values. We believe strength and resiliency in difficult times is the cornerstone of Army Nursing...We remember those nursing professionals who came before us and honor their legacy, determination, and sacrifice. We are fundamentally committed to provide exceptional care to past, present, and future generations who bravely defend and protect our nation."2
The history of army nursing is interesting and has demonstrated the strategic planning of those in command to ensure that adequate numbers of nurses would be available in times of military need.
On the front lines
The value of having nurses in combat zones was recognized at the turn of the century with the Spanish-American war. To create a more stable and sustainable nursing presence, Congress passed the Army Reorganization Act on February 2, 1901, and the Nurse Corps (females only) became permanent corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department. Throughout the years of recurring combats, the education and training of army nurses became more formalized along with the development of advanced professional standards. The Army School of Nursing was opened in 1918, later merged with Walter Reed Hospital, and was finally closed in 1931 due to financial problems.
Nurses continued to be trained in other schools. Having nurses on the front lines improved access to care for the wounded and, working with a professional health team, the nurses' postoperative, critical care, and trauma expertise increased survival rates.3 In 1955, male nurses received authorization for reserve commissions.
Nurses have been wounded, killed, and taken as prisoners of war; their service has been invaluable. In December 2011, LTG Patricia D. Horoho was confirmed as the first nurse and the first female to be appointed to the Army Surgeon General position. What a victory for nursing!
Honoring our colleagues
There is also a Navy Nurse Corps similar to the Army's. Today's aspiring military nurse must have a bachelor's degree or be a student in a program leading to a bachelor's degree in order to enter the service as a commissioned officer. Advanced practice nurses are especially coveted because of their higher level of education and skills.
Tens of thousands of nurses have earned the status of veteran. The motto of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps is "Embrace the Past, engage the Present, and envision the Future." Along with all the other veterans, we particularly honor our colleagues-the past, present, and future military nurses.
Jamesetta Newland, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, DNPNAP
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]
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