MilitaryNursing

Definition
1.Theprofessionofalleviatingthesufferingofwoundedanddyingsoldiersisasoldaswarfare
itself.

2.Healthcareprofessionalswhoprovidemedicalcaretopatientsinmilitaryclinicsandhospitals.
Theymonitorwoundsforinfection,preparepatientsforsurgeriesandprovidepreoperativeand
postoperativecare.Otherjobresponsibilitiesforthesenursesincludemonitoringpain,helping
theinjuredlearnhowtocareforthemselvesandextendingemotionalsupport.Inpeacetime,
militarynurseslookafteractivedutypersonnel,militaryretireesandtheirdependents.Theymay
alsoprovidehealthcaretocivilianemergencypatients.Duringwartime,thesenursesprovide
medicalcarearoundtheworld.

HistoryofMitaryNursinginthePhilippines
Looking back into the past, military nursing in the Philippines may be said to have
existedasearlyas1896whenthelegendaryTandangSoratookcareofthesickandwounded
"revolucionarios" of the Katipunan, the military arm of the Philippine Revolutionary
Governmentofthattime.
TimetendedtoobscuretheheroicbeginningsofmilitarynursinginthePhilippines.In
1937,thePhilippineArmyGeneralHospitalwasorganizedatCampMurphy,QuezonCitywith
aninitialcapacityof60bedswhichwaslaterexpandedto250beds.Professionalnursinginthis
hospitalwasperformedbymalenurseswhowerecalledtoactivedutyasenlistedmen.Although
therewasaneedforfemalemilitarynurses,nofemalenursewascalledtoactiveduty.Itwas
onSeptember5,1938thattheNurseCorpsbecameadistinctAFPbranchofservicebyvirtueof
Commonwealth Act No 385. Implementation was however not immediate, as the
complementaryExecutiveOrderNo267implementingtheCommonwealthActwasissuedonly
on15April1940.ThisActprescribedtheNurseCorpsReserverulesandregulationsonthe

procurement,qualifications,appointment,promotion,classification,compensation,assignment
andresponsibilitiesduringthemobilization.
OnJune1940,CongresspassedCANo569confiningmilitarynursestofemalenurses.
This Act changed the designation of " Nurse Corps" to " Female Nurses", purposely to
emphasizethefemalecompositionoftheCorps.Italsoplacedintothecategoryciviliannurses
who were commissioned in the Reserve Force. Despite the corresponding rank extended to
military nurses,they were not entitled to a salute.They were neither given the pay and
allowances due to other military officers holding the same grade. Their scale of pay and
allowancesweresimilartothoseofothergovernmentemployeesofthesamegrade.Theonly
additionaltrainingtheyreceivedwasanextensioncoursewiththeGeneralServiceSchoolat
CampHenryTAlleninBaguio.Therewerenoarmyregulationsgoverningtheorientationor
refreshertrainingoffemalenursesfromwhichguidanceonarmylifecouldbederived.Theonly
regulationwaswithreferencetothekindofuniformandinsigniaswornbythecommissioned
nursesembodiedinBulletinNo101on27July1940.Unfortunately,thewearingofuniforms
andinsigniaswentonlyasfarasthepicturetakingforidentificationpurposes.
Onwhatfundamentalprincipleoflawthischangehasbeenpromisedandtowardswhat
objectiveithasbeenaimedisalsoaquestionmarkuptothepresenttime.TheArmyNurse
Corpshadsufferedanunceremoniousdeathintheunwarrantedchange...thenurseswhowerein
theservicefallingnaturallyinto"civilian"category,alamentableanddiscouragingexperiencein
allitsscope.
ThelatePresidentManuelLQuezonmusthavesomehowrealizedthegrossinjustices
sufferedbymilitarynursesthuson30July1940,heissuedGeneralOrderNo138.ThisOrder
commissionedthefirstgroupofnursesintotheReserveForcewithrelativeranks.Relativerank
isacomparativerankorpositionofauthoritydesignatedtoofficersholdingthesamegrade.
A series of orders commissioning female nurses followed. Thirty five nurses were
commissionedasthirdlieutenantson2October1940,pursuanttoGeneralOrderN0180inthe
NurseCorpsReserveForce.On6June1941,anotherbatchof30nurseswerecommissionedin
theNurseCorpsReserveunderGeneralNo941.Therewereotherfemaleofficerscommissioned
duringtheperiodbuttheirrecordscouldnolongerbereconstituted.Majorityofnursesinthe
NurseCorpsReservewereeventuallycalledtoactiveduty.AsofDecember1969,fourofthese
nurses(circa19401941)werestillaroundsuchasLTCOLFRANCISCAJOSUEVERGARA,
LT COL CORAZON RIVERA, MAJ REMEDIOS AQUINO and MAJ PAT ALINEA. The
events showedthatthe NurseCorps was eventuallyorganized andprofessionalnurses were
commissionedintheNurseCorpsReserve.
WhenthePacificWarbrokeouton8December1941,nofemalenurseswerecalledto
activeservice.AwareoftheexistinginactiveNurseCorps,commandersofthedifferentmilitary

districtsofthePhilippineArmyalloverthecountryissuedordersforcommissionednursestobe
calledtoactiveduty.TheUnitedStatesArmedForcesintheFarEast(USAFFE)recruitednurses
andbroughtthemalongtoBataanandlaterCorregidorunderthebarrageofbombsandshells.In
recognitionoftheiruntoldsacrifices,testedloyaltyandpatriotism,thevolunteernurseswere
commissionedandcalledtoactivedutyasearlyasApril9,1942byvirtueofSpecialOrderNo.
27asmembersofthePhilippineArmy,thenintegralpartoftheUSAFFE.Thenurseswere
extendedtherankandprivilegeofathirdlieutenant.Amongthosewhorespondedtothecall
weresomeFilipinonursesfromthestaffofUSArmyHospitalsandfromotheragenciesinthe
Philippines.AmongthosewhojoinedthevolunteergroupswerenursesworkingattheSternberg
GeneralHospitalinManilaandtheArmyGeneralHospitalatFortMckinley,Rizal(nowFort
Bonifacio) and Fort Stotsenberg, Pampanga. At this point in time, the Army nurses were
scatteredinLuzon,Visayas,andMindanao.Afterliberationthesenursesincludingthosewiththe
GuerillaCommissionreportedtovariousmilitarycentersandweredulyprocessedforintegration
intothePhilippineArmy.CAPTDOLORESCBEJEC,inactive,relatesherguerrillaactivities:
Fear,tension,anxietyandlackoffoodwerehauntingthemintheevacuationareaearlyas
thebeginningofthewarinourevacuationarea.Forawhile,theywerehelpingthoseevacuees
whogotsickduetoinadequatenutrition,poorsanitationandexposuretotheelements.
ThenewsthattheJapanesewereneartheirareamadeconditionsmoreunbearable.This
wascompoundedwhenontheeveofOctober31,1944,theyweremadetoleavetheBambang
GeneralHospitalbecausetheJapanesewouldcometooccupyit.Itwasawholenightandwhole
dayhikebeforetheyreachedthe3rdBattalionofthe14thInfantry,UnitedStatesArmedForces
inthePhilippines(betterknownastheUSAFIPNL).
Sincethen,theywerealwaysonthealert.Foodwasrunninglow.Thesicksoldierswere
becoming weaker. They also increased in number. They had to move from one hideout to
anotherwhenevertheirdefenselinewasbroken.
Butthemostfrightfulexperiencewaswhentheirhospitalcampwassurroundedbythe
Japanese.Theyhadtoleavetheplaceinahurrythroughheavilyguardedtrails.Itwasamatter
offastaction,courage,andperseverance,forhadtheyprocrastinated,theycouldhavebeen
overtakenbytheJapanese.
The camp was occupied by the Japanese in a matter of hours after their departure.
InBataan,theysufferedjustliketheirbrothersinarms.BeforeBataanfelltoenemyhands,these
nurses joined the military forces in Corregidor and continued to serve under very trying
circumstances.LongafterCorregidorhadfallen,COMMANDERROSITALEDESMA(now
Mrs.Makaling)wroteanarticleabouttheplightoftheguerrillaforcesinSouthNegros:

Duetofrequentenemyencounters,exposuretotheelements,sicknessandmalnutrition,
theneedfornursesbecameevident.Pendingdefinitepolicies,nursesrenderedvoluntaryservice
toguerrillasandcivilians,whereverandwhenevertherewasaneedforthem,withoutthoughtof
financialremunerationorrecognition.
InNegros,the7thMilitaryDistrictNursingServicewasformallyorganizedon15March
1943withthecommissionofafewnursestocomposethe7thMilitaryDistrictNursingService.
AgraduateofMaryJohnstonHospitalSchoolofNursing,1LTFILOMENABRAZIL,
guerrillacommissionednurse,wasappointedDistrictChiefNurse.LTROSITAJLEDESMA
hadmanyvarieddutiesandresponsibilities.SheactedasCommandingOfficerwhenherCOwas
absent,inadditiontobeingtheSupplyOfficer,doctorandnurseoftheoutfit.
Aspartoftheguerrillaservicesupport,thenurseshikedfordays,attimesforseven
continuousdays,restingonlyformeal.andatnighttosleep.Whenliberationwasnear,the
nurses were always behind the vicinity where combat was expected."
InfarflungregionsofNorthernLuzon,VisayasandMindanao,similaractivitiestookplace.
NursevolunteerswerealsocommissionedandcalledtoactivedutyundertheUSAFFEasearly
asJanuary13,1942,withheadquartersinBukidnon.ByvirtueofSpecialOrderNo4dated
January 9, 1942, there was a commissioning and calling to active duty of members of the
Medical,Dental,MedicalAdministrative,NursesandInfantryreserves.
Therewasnoformalorganizationalsetupofmilitarynursingserviceduringthisperiod.
Nursesrenderednursingactivitieswherevertheywere,guidedonlybytheirfullandunstilted
desiretoserve.Inmostinstances,theyhadnoformalsecurity.Theuntoldsacrificesandrisks
that military nurses took during the war years, as typified by the foregoing accounts, were
duplicatedahundredtimeselsewhereinthePhilippines.Perhaps,othergallantsacrificeswill
foreverremainunchronicled.
ItisinterestingtomentionthatthreemilitarynursesreceivedtheFlorenceNightingale
International Award for outstanding services during this period. This award was under the
auspices of the International Council of Nurses in Geneva, Switzerland. They were
HONORATALEGASPI,retiredMajorandnowdeceased;LTCOLANGELINACASTRO,
retired;andMSFELIPAJAVELERA,inactive.
World War II ended in February 1945 with the unconditional surrender of Japan.
Henceforth,therewerechanges,challengesandadjustmentstoexistingconditions;Therewere
newattitudesandnewhorizons.
TheMedicalServicecalledtoactivedutythenursesoftheNurseCorpsReserve.Those
withguerrillacommissionsweredulyprocessed.Othernurseswerecalledtoactivedutyby
directcommission.Mostofthenurseswereattachedtothe227thStationHospitalinCamp

Murphy, Quezon City. Other nurses were assigned to the station hospitals such as those in
Tagudin,IlocosSurandCampMakabulos,Tarlac.
On 4 July 1946, the Philippines gained its independence. The Philippine Army was
puttingaclosetoitsreserveactivitieswhilethePhilippineConstabulary(thentheMilitaryPolice
Command)tookcareofthepeaceandorderproblems.Atthispointtheservicesofthemedical
officersandnurseswereallthemoreneeded.Militarynursingwastostayuntilthelastwounded
ordisabledveteranwasreleased.
The biggest medical installation at that time wasthe first Philippine Army General
HospitalinCampMurphywhichwaslatertransferredtoMandaluyong,Rizal.Therewasagreat
numberofnursesassignedtothisinstallation.On3September1947,thehospitalwasnamed
VictorianoLunaGeneralHospitalinhonorofitsfirstSurgeonGeneralwhodiedinlineofduty
inBataan.ThehospitalwasmovedtoitspresentsiteinKamiasRoad,QuezoncityinJanuary
1950.The first Chief Nurse of the V. Luna General Hospital was CAPT GREGORIA
ESPINOSA (now Mrs Paul K Madarang). As early as 1946,CAPT ESPINOSA prepared a
petitionforthePresidentofthePhilippinesdefiningthestatusofthenurses.On6March1947,
SecretaryEmilioAbelloopinedthatthegovernmentwasnotinpositiontofavorablyconsiderthe
nurses request.Thisopinionspurredthenursesintomorevigorousaction.
On10June1950,thelatePres.ElpidioQuirinoamendedRA203byvirtueofRA479.
This was to recognize andcompensatefortheexemplarymembers ofthe military services,
givingamplecompensationcommensuratetothenumberofyears,monthsanddaysrendered
while on actual military duty. It also paved a foundation for determining the grade, rank,
seniorityandretirementofNCofficers.
The enactment of RA 203 and RA 479 were great strides in the history of military
nursing, where nurses sought recognition. Although initial efforts were not too successful,
militarynursespersistedandputtheCorpsinitsrightfulplaceinthemilitaryorganization.
ConditionsinthecountryduringtheearlyfiftieswereaffectedbytheHukresurgencein
thesouth.ThisaffectedtheMedicalServicebecausemilitarynurseswerekilledwhenCamp
Makabuloswasraided.Doctorsandnursesworkedonextendedshiftsservedselflesslyamidst
dwindlingsuppliesandthreatofdeath.Forthese,theywerecommendedandwereawarded
militarymeritmedals.
On 12 June 1951, RA 645 was enacted which provided that reserve officers (not
exceeding150)wouldbeselectedandintegratedintotheRegularForceinthreebatchesoffifty
peryearbeginningfiscalyear195354.ExecutiveOrderNo601wasissuedbythePresidentto
implementthisparticularintegration.InAugust1952,thetitle,"ArmyNurseCorps,Medical
Service" was changed to "Nurse Corps, AFP" with the abbreviated branch of service as

NC.Thus,theNurseCorpsoftheAFPwasbornandfinallyrecognized.Membershipinthe
NurseCorps,previouslyanallreserveofficersCorps,expandedtoincluderegularofficers.Since
then,severalRepublicActs,circularsandAFPregulationswerepassed,approvedandpublished
toupgradethestandardsoftheNurseCorps. On10February1963,The"Standardizationof
Military Nursing Positions" was approved which included ranking of military nurses
correspondingtoTableofOrganization(T/O)positions.TheranksofColonelandLieutenant
Colonelmakewereattainable.Aseparatepromotionboardcomposedofmilitarynurseswas
created.TheNurseCorpshadaseparatedeclarationofpromotionalvacanciesfromtherankof
Major,LieutenantColonelandColonel.ItwasonDecember1969,thattheNurseCorpshad
officerswiththerankofthefollowing:fullcolonel,13lieutenantcolonelandanumberofmajor.
In1964,RepublicActNo.4164waspassed,authorizingthesendingofaPhilippine
ContingentorPHILCONSouthVietnameveryyear.MilitaryNursesweresentasmembersof
the medical teams. In 1966, Republic Act 4664 was passed authorizing the sending of the
Philippine Civic Action Group to Vietnam or PHILCAG V which included a hospital
complement, medical, dental and rural health teams. The second Philcag returned to the
PhilippinesonDecember20,1969.Thenursesinthemedicalteamsactedasnursesupervisorsin
wardunitsandhelpedorganizedcentralsupplyrooms.Theyinvolvedthemselvesinthetraining
ofVietnamesenurses,techniciansandwardattendants.Someofthemwentonhomevisitsand
taught health education in Vietnamese hamlets and assisted doctors in surgical and medical
treatments.
Atotalof94militarynurseshadservedinVietnam.Someofthemhadbeencommended
andgivenmedalsandawardsforheroismanddevotiontoduty.Reserveofficerswhowere
assignedinVietnamarenowcoveredbyRA6441exemptingthemfromreversion.
In summary, the period 19511972 was a crucial test of the capabilities, courage,
endurance,patienceandotherattributesoftheNurseCorps.TheCorpsrespondedwiththeskill
andendurancedemandedbytheoccasion.Theperiodwasfurthercharacterizedbyacontinuous
desireoftheCorpstoimproveitselfprofessionallyandtosecurethebenefitsdeprivedofthem
foraverylongtime.
Effective21June1973,theOfficeoftheChiefNurse,AFPwasactivatedasaTechnical
StaffofGeneralHeadquarters,AFPbyvirtueofGeneralOrderNo510dated28June1973and
recognizedtheNurseCorpsasadistinctbranchofserviceintheAFP.ThisaffordedTheChief
Nurse,AFP,the prerogative to decide on matters purely affecting the Nurse Corps and the
nursingprofessionintheArmedForcesofthePhilippines.However,TheChiefNurseCorps,
AFPstillremainstheconsultantofTheSurgeonGeneralonthenursingserviceaspectasit
relatestotheoverallprogramoftheMedicalService.Thismarkedanothermilestoneinthe
NurseCorpshistory.

On17April1975,aletterdirectiveentitled"ExtendedFunctionsofMilitaryNurses"was
passed.Itprescribedthepoliciesandproceduresonthetrainingassignmentandutilizationof
militarynurseanesthetists,aswellasotherNurseCorpsOfficersintheperformanceoffunctions
normallyperformedbymedicalofficers.
MakinghistoryasthefirstmalenursetobecommissionedintotheNurseCorpson21
July1976markedthedaywhenamalenurse,2LT.FERNANDOBALANE,issubsequently
calledtoactivedutyon24November1976,wascommissionedintotheNurseCorpsforthefirst
time,hewascalledtoactivedutyinthePhilippineAirForce.
In1984,theOfficeoftheChiefNurse,PhilippineArmyintensifiedandstrengthenedthe
PrimaryHealthCareCommunityProgramatFortMagsaysay,NuevaEcija.Thestrikingstrategy
usedbythisprogramwasitsfocusonmassiveandcontinuouscommunityhealthprevention,
restoration and rehabilitation programs which have been successfully implemented
operationalizedbythedifferentPhilippineArmyNursingunits.COLEDMUNDABRILLON,
thethenChiefNurse,PhilippineArmyperceivedthatcarestrategieswouldbebestinpavingthe
wayforthepromotionofthehealthandwellbeingofthepopulace.AccordingtothePAChief
Nurse,thepeoplecouldbedrawnclosertotheAFPthroughsincereeffortinpromotingtheir
healthandcouldbedonethroughasystematicbutimmediatedeliveryofprimaryhealthcare
servicestoeachandeverycommunityofthenation.Accordingto"Primaryhealthcareasa
strategyismeantnotonlytoclosethegapbetweenthehavesandthehavenotbutalsotoserve
asameansforequitabledistributionofhealthresourcestobringaboutalevelofhealthforall
citizenscapableofmakingasociallyandeconomicallyproductivelife."
Within these varied network of dimensional functions, the Nurse Corps continues in
interpretingitselftothe people. Suchis themilitarynurses convictionoftoday, that sheis
competent,humaneandwiththeprofoundsenseofcommitmenttoduty.
Furthermore,toproducehighlyprofessionalizednurses,CircularNo2entitledCareer
DevelopmentProgramforNurseCorpsOfficersintheAFPwaspublishedon13May1987.It
prescribedtheproceduresinvolvedintheclassificationofNurseCorpsOfficersandtheinitiation
andrevisionofsuchclassification.CareerpatternfortheNurseCorpsandguidelinesforcareer
managementwerelikewiseprescribed.TheupgradingoftheTableofOrganization(TO)ofThe
ChiefNurse,AFPfromColoneltoBrigadierGeneralwasalsoembodiedinthiscircular.
ThiscircularwassubsequentlyfollowedbytheapprovalofStaffMemorandumNumber
08on09November1990.ItprovidedfortheupgradingoftheorganizationoftheNurseCorps,
AFPtoenableittocarryoutitsfunctionsandresponsibilitiesresponsiblyandrealistically.
Thesedevelopmentswouldhavebeendifficulttoimagine,say,fiveortenyearsago.
Theyunderlinethedramaticchangesthatarenowquietlytakingplaceinthenursingprofession.

Perhaps the most important of these changes is the catapulting of the military nurse into
leadershiproleswithinthetraditionalhierarchyoftheArmedForcesofthePhilippines.

Background
TheArmedForcesofthePhilippinesismandatedtoserveandprotectthepeopleand
securethesovereigntyofthestateandtheintegrityofitsnationalterritoryfrominternaland
externalthreats.Inviewthereof,theAFPpledgesallegiancetotheFilipinopeople,adheresto
theprincipleofsupremacyofcivilianauthorityoverthemilitaryatalltimesandvowstouphold
anddefendtheConstitution.
InrealizingtheAFPmandate,theNurseCorps,AFPrecognizesandgivesprioritytothe
enhancement of nursing care delivery system in order to best serve the interest of military
personnel,theirdependents andauthorizedcivilians.Hence,thetransformationoftheNurse
Corpsintoaknowledgebased,competencybasedandvaluesbasedorganizationisthethrustof
theOfficeofTheChiefNurse,AFP.
Mission,Vision,CorePurposeandCoreValues
Mission
TheNurseCorpsAFP,iscommittedtoprovideacomprehensiveandqualitynursingcare
servicestoallmilitarypersonnel,theirdependentsandauthorizedcivilians.
Vision
The Nurse Corps, AFP, a valuedriven organization, as the best provider of highly
specialized, proactive and relevant military nursing services in the Armed Forces of

thePhilippines.Acenterofexcellencewheremilitarynursesnotonlycommitthemselvesto
servicebutinthepursuitofpersonalandprofessionaldevelopmenttowardtheachievementof
thegoaloftheAFPNursingService.
CorePurpose
To deliver quality nursing care to clients, provide education and training to nursing
service personnel and conduct relevant researches in support of the AFP mission.

CoreValues
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Serviceaboveself
AccountabilityandEthics
Integrity
Competence
EspritdeCorps

REQUIREMENTSFORCOMMISSIONSHIPINTHENURSECORPS

FORSINGLES:
1.

MustbeanaturalbornFilipinocitizen

2.

Musthaveapleasingpersonalityandgoodmoralcharacter

3.

RegisterednursewithaBoardratingof80%orabove.Below80%maybeadmitted,but
shouldpassaqualifyingexaminationtobeconductedbytheOfficeoftheChiefNurse,AFP

4.

Maleandfemaleapplicantsmustbesingleorneverbeenmarried.Forfemaleapplicants,
mustnotbepositivelyfoundtohavegivenbirthtoalivingstillbornchild.

5.

Notmorethan32yearsoldatthetimeofcommission

6.

Mustsatisfythefollowingheightrequirements:
Femaleatleast52
Maleatleast54

7.

Mustbementallyandphysicallyfitformilitaryserviceandclearedbytheappropriate
securityagencies.
IFMARRIED:

1.

FirstpriorityshallbegiventoEnlistedPersonnelwhoareregisterednursesbyprofession
with at least three (3) years of active military service and have successfully completed the
ClinicalNursingProgramforEPNursesbeingconductedbytheOfficeofTheChiefNurse,
AFP.

2.

Second priority shall be given to other applicants who have satisfied the additional
followingadditionalrequirements:
a.) With at least three (3) years of current and continuous professional experience in
hospital/clinicsettingsandorasmemberofafacultyofarecognizedSchoolofNursing.
b.)PreferablywithMasterinNursingoratleastnine(9)unitsofpostgraduatestudiesleadingto
MasterinNursing.
Ifyoumeetanyoftheaboverequirements,youshouldalsopreparethefollowingdocuments:

Resumewith22Picture;

CollegeDiploma;

TranscriptofRecords;

CertificateofBoardRating.

SubmittheabovedocumentstotheOfficeoftheChiefNurseattheHeneralValdezBuildingat
CampEmilioAguinaldo,QuezonCityforinitialevaluation.

MilitaryNursesAssociationofthePhilippines
MilitaryNursesAssociationofthePhilippines(MNAP)isadulyrecognizedspecialty
organizationofthePhilippineNursesAssociation(PNA).ThecurrentPresidentisCol.Alma
BellaP.Ancheta,NC(Ret.)

MilitaryNurseDuties
Military Nurses have similar duties as Registered Nurses with a few exceptions.
Military Nurses have a little more responsibilities in terms of military standards.
"In fact, a military nurse can be classified as active duty, reserve, or hired as a civilian
employee."
Theyrequirelongtermcommitmentdependingontheircontracttime.MilitaryNursesarelikely
tobesentabroadatacombathospital
OncegraduatedwithaRegisteredNursingDegreethenurses mayenrollas officers inthe
military

MilitaryNurseBenefits
Compensation
Payandallowancesarethemostimportantcomponentofcompensation

Pay
Everyonereceivesbasicpayinthebeginning
Payraisedependsonrankandseniority

RoleofMilitaryNurses
Duringtheinpatientphase,nursesspendmoretimewiththesepatientsthananyother
healthcareproviderandareresponsibleforcarryingouttheirownscopeofworkaswellas
interventions ordered by other team members. (Rossbach, P.17, 2008). An example being
during amputee patients, nurses are required to carry out different responsibilities.

Duringtheinpatientphase,nursesspendmoretimewiththesepatientsthananyother
healthcareproviderandareresponsibleforcarryingouttheirownscopeofworkaswellasthe
interventionsorderedbyotherteammembers.Theseresponsibilitiesinclude:
1. Monitoringwoundsforinfection
2. Preparingpatientsforsurgeriesanddebridements(thecuttingawayofforeignmaterialor
deadorcontaminatedtissuefromawound)
3. Providingpreoperativeandpostoperativecare
4. Checkingtheefficacyofthemethodusedtoreducepostsurgicalswellingintheresidual
limbandreapplyingitwhennecessaryandappropriate

5. Monitoringpainmedicationtomaintainitatalevelatwhichrestandrelaxationcanbe
achievedsothattherigorousprocessofrehabilitationcanbecarriedout
6. Teachingtheinjuredhowtocareforthemselves
7. Providingemotionalsupportandfacilitatingpeervisitation.
Nurseswillalso:

Helppatientswithactivitiesofdailyliving

Accompanythemastheylearnhowtouseoneormoreassistivedevices

Encouragethemastheybeginthenecessaryandtedioustaskoflearningtoputon,use,
Nursesareamongthefirsthealthcareproviderstoexplaintopatientsthesequenceof
eventstobeexpectedduringthelongprocessofstabilization,rehabilitationandrecovery.They
willexplainwhatisgoingtohappen,whereitwilltakeplace,andwhenandhowitwillbe
accomplished.Familymembersalsodependonnursesforinformationandsupport.
Toaccomplishallofthis,militarynursesreceivecontinuingeducationinallaspectsof
thephysicalandemotionalcareofthewarinjured,fromthetheater,toanintermediatefacility
likeLandstuhlRegionalMedicalCenterinGermany,toWalterReedArmyMedicalCenter,to
theresidentialhotelsintheWalterReedcomplex,andfinallyathome.Caringforindividuals
recoveringfromacatastrophiclifechangingeventrequiresspecialskillsthatcannotallbetaught
inaclassroom.

MilitaryNursingOpportunities
Thereareopportunitiesfornursestobefulltime(activeduty)orparttime(reserveor
guardnurses)(Fant,2009).Activedutynursesworkfulltime,justlikeanyotherprofession.
Reserveorguarddutynurseshavedifferenttimeperiodswhentheyareconsideredinactiveor
active(Fant,2009).Duringtheactiveandinactiveperiods,nursesareplacedinanytypeof
healthcaresetting(Fant,2009).Thereare3branchesofthemilitarythatofferdifferentmissions
fornurses.The3branchesarecalledtheNavy,theAirForce,andtheArmy(Fant,2009).Being
inthemilitaryoffersmanyeducationalopportunitiessuchasscholarshipsandloans(Fant,2009).
Asanursingstudent,attendingthemilitary,astipendisreceivedwhichisapaymentforstudents
(Fant,2009).Ifamilitarystudentnursewouldliketoadvancetheireducation,themilitarywill
payforthestudenttopursuecontinuingeducation(Fant,2009).Studentswhoareonactiveduty
whilestillattendingpostsecondaryschoolreceiveagoodsalary,whichincreasesalongwiththe
nurse'srank(Fant,2009).Basedontheeducation,interestandneedsofamilitarynurse,thereare
variousspecialtiesthattheyareabletochoosefrom.Militarynursesareabletocareformembers
ofthemilitaryandtheirdependents,militaryretireesandtheirdependents,andpeoplefrom
nearly any part of the world (Fant, 2009). Nurses in the military who are officers are
professionalswhohaveobtainedarank(Fant,2009).Promotioninthemilitaryisbasedonjob
performance,justlikeitwouldbeinanyotherprofessionorjob.Ifmilitarynursesreceivearank
status,thisalsoaffectshowtheyinteractwithphysicians(Fant,2009).Militarynurseshavea
greatersenseofautonomy.Unlikeciviliannurses,militarynurseshavetheopportunitytotravel
aroundtheworld.Guardnursesorreservenursesmaycomeacrossopportunitiestodotheir
active nursing in different places of the world, including exotic places (Fant, 2009). When
countriesareatwar,deploymentallowsnursesagreatchancetotravelacrosstheworldtowork
asmilitarynurses(Fant,2009).

WHYJOINTHEARMY?

 Nurses join the Army Nurse Corps for a variety of reasons both personal and
professional.Somejoinforthecontinuingeducationopportunities,othersfortheopportunityto
servetheircountryandstillothersfortheopportunitytoleadascommissionedofficersinthe
Army.All,however,agreeononething.Theirdecisionisdue,atleastinpart,totheprofessional
growthopportunitiestheArmyoffers.

EDUCATIONALOPPORTUNITIES
TheArmyNurseCorpsencouragesitsnursestoimprovetheirskillsandenhancetheir
professional experience through a variety of educational programs, including postgraduate
opportunitiesandcontinuingeducationandspecialtycourses,allofwhichtheyoftenattendat
theArmysexpense.Theseprogramsnotonlyensureahighdegreeofmotivation,professional
opportunities and career satisfaction, but serve to maintain both the Armys high nursing
standardsandyourlevelofexpertise.
GREATERRESPONSIBILITY
Once you enter the Army, you will work with a team of talented health care
professionals, all of whom are dedicated to providing the highest standard of patient care
possible.AsakeymemberoftheArmyHealthCareTeam,youwillhavetheopportunityto
excelinyourareaofexpertise.Youllalsoprovideacomprehensiveapproachtonursingfor
yourpatients.Youwillbeinaleadershippositionandenjoytheprivileges,pay,respectand
authorityofacommissionedofficerintheArmy.Asanofficerandaleader,youwillleadby
example in meeting the Armys high professional standards and be given a great deal of
responsibility,beginningwithyourfirstassignment.Youllsuperviseavarietyofprofessional

andparaprofessionalnursingcareproviders atArmyhealthcarefacilities,makingdecisions
aboutdaytodaypatientcareandensuringthatyourdecisionsarecarriedoutinaneffectiveand
efficientmanner

References
Acronyms.(2009).TheNationalAcademicPress.Retrieved
fromhttp://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9180&page=235
CanadianNursesAssociation.(2009).Retrieved
fromhttp://www.cnaaiic.ca/CNA/nursing/becoming/profile/lee/default_e.aspx
Fant,C.(2009).MilitaryNursingOpportunities.Retrievedfrom
http://www.nursetogether.com/tabid/102/itemid/1192/MilitaryNursing
Opportunities.aspx
McDonald,P.,&Holmes,R.(2009).Militarynurses.Referenceanswers.Retrieved
fromhttp://www.answers.com/topic/militarynurses
Rossbach,P.(2008).TheRoleofMilitaryNurses.MilitaryInStep:APublicationofthe
AmputeeCoalitionofAmericainPartnershipwiththeU.S.ArmyAmputeePatientCare
Program.Retrievedfromhttp://www.amputeecoalition.org/militaryinstep/military
nurse.html

ArmedForcesofthePhilippines canofferaJOBOPPORTUNITY totheNEWNURSES!

(2015)

https://dexterdiwas.com/2015/06/25/armedforcesofthephilippinesoffers

jobopportunitytothenewnurses/.
Military

Nurses.

Retrieved

on

November

26,

2016

from

https://nursing101.wikispaces.com/Military+Nurses.
Military Nurses Association of the Philippines (MNAP). Retrieved on November 26, 2016
from

http://www.philippinenursingdirectory.com/associations/militarynurses

associationofthephilippinesmnap/commentpage1/.