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A military twist to the profession of nursing.

Article Excerpt
Military nurses have a way of distinguishing themselves from the rest of the world. Not that we are any better than nurses who work in the civilian sector, but we are distinguished in the fact that we have two roles to fulfill. First, we are Soldiers, and second, we are nurses. Your first response might be to correct me by saying that we are nurses first. But this is not true in the Army, or in any of the Armed Forces. We are Soldiers first. In today's military, it is now more important than ever to ensure that every Soldier is armed properly, and equipped with a strong foundation and knowledge of soldiering skills in addition to the skills of the roles he or she will perform in the deployed environment.

The inherent stress of living and working in a combat zone is a reality that many of us face (or have faced) on a routine basis. After the first few weeks in Baghdad, you begin to settle into the routine of carrying your assigned weapon and ammunition with you at all times. Wearing your body armor quickly becomes second nature. You become accustomed to the sounds of war: random mortar attacks, car bombs exploding, helicopters flying overhead, the sound of gunfire at all hours of the day, and the loud generators that provide the hospital with a consistent power supply. I now can tell you what kind of helicopter is flying overhead by the sound it makes--no need to look up. Soon, you become so accustomed to the constant noise that silence is...

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