Navy Nurse celebrates 95 years

[thedrifter]

Navy Nurse celebrates 95 years
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 200352020351
Story by Cpl. J. Matthew Barkalow



CAMP LESTER, Okinawa, Japan(May 21, 2003) -- Approximately 600 servicemembers were wounded in battle during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Of those troops, nearly 500 of them were nursed back to health.

Lives were saved in part, due to deployed medical units on the front lines who moved swiftly and precisely to come to the aid of the troops. A large portion of these medical units can be attributed to Navy nurses, who have a long-standing reputation for excellence in the medical field and helping servicemembers during peace and war.

U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa celebrated the Navy Nurse Corps? 95th birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony at the hospital May 13.

The event celebrated the heritage and tradition of the Navy Nurse Corps and was in conjunction with National Nurses Week, which was May 6 to May 12.

According to Rear Adm. Nancy J. Lescavage, director, Navy Nurse Corps, Congress authorized the establishment of a female nurse corps within the Navy in May 1908. There were more than 1,550 nurses in the nurse corps by the conclusion of World War I. By World War II, nurses were recognized as commissioned officers with some 1,700 nurses serving the sick and wounded.

According to Capt. John A. Dixon, director of nursing services, U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, it was not until 1965 that the nurse corps became integrated and allowed men to serve. Now the percentage of males in the nurse corps is approximately 25 percent.

It is the goal of the nurse corps to be ready for any mission during peacetime and wartime. The nurse corps strives to recruit, train and retain people to meet Navy medicine's mission.

"Navy nurses are responsible for providing care to Sailors and Marines, regardless of where they are," said Cmdr. Lynne Kueck, division officer, emergency room, U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa, and Mobile, Al. native.

Not only do the nurses have to go wherever the need is, but they also learn various aspects of nursing.

"We learn all facets of nursing and medicine, whereas civilian nurses stick to one specific area," said Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Hearn, division officer, pediatric and immunization clinic, U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa.

According to Dixon, knowledge in different areas of nursing, as well as leadership within the nurse corps, sets it apart from civilian nurses.

"Variety is key in military nursing. They move around and do different jobs," the St. Louis native said. "What Navy nursing has over civilian nursing is the opportunity to excel in leadership roles. A vast percentage more nurses here are expected to step up as leaders."

In addition to these differences between the civilian nurses and naval nurses, there seems to be more camaraderie in the military nursing community than can be found on the civilian side.

"The camaraderie, team work and flexibility sets the Navy Nurse Corps apart from civilian nurses," said Hearn, a Randolph, Mass. native.

With Navy nurses located anywhere there are Marine units, one can rest assured that, not only are they getting adequate health care, their nurses have traditions and history behind them to back it up.


Sempers,

Roger