ABSTRACT
Competencies for military nurses are much broader in scope than their civilian counterparts. Not only must they be proficient at basic nursing skills, but they must also quickly master such military skills as protecting themselves and others during attack or threat of attack, caring for major trauma victims under austere conditions, and preparing such patients for transport through the military system of evacuation. This requires consistent and specialized training. This article describes the competencies necessary for practice by military nurses.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Military Nursing , Nurse's Role , Adaptation, Psychological , Cultural Competency , Employee Performance Appraisal , Forecasting , Humans , Knowledge , Leadership , Military Nursing/education , Military Nursing/organization & administration , Thinking , Transportation of Patients , Travel , United StatesABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of information in after-action reports in terms of nursing practice and the utility of using after-action reports in a feedback loop to improve nursing training. This was a three-phase, mixed-method, qualitative study, using focus groups, phone surveys, and e-mail surveys to collect data. The sample consisted of 72 military nurses (Air Force, Navy, and Army) deployed in the last 4 years. The process of after-action reporting is unknown to the majority of nurse corps officers. Topics of concern in after-actions reporting included supplies, psychosocial issues, personnel, communications, logistics, and after-actions reporting process. Traditional written after-actions reporting has not provided an adequate feedback loop. Alternative methods suggested included "hot wash" meetings, online submissions, e-mail contributions, and verbal debriefings. After-actions reporting could yield an excellent wealth of information, if reported in a timely and detailed manner, for nursing leaders.
