Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Maj. Michael McFadden, Company C “Dustoff”, Task Force Phoenix, 10th...... read more read more
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Aviation medical evacuation soldiers are tasked with a hefty mission to retrieve injured patients and keep their vital signs stable until they can reach a hospital to receive a higher level of treatment.
Soldiers in Company C “Dustoff”, Task Force Phoenix, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, made strides in improving patient care since their arrival in country last August. This is due, in part, to the inclusion of the Army’s new program in which flight nurses have been attached to the unit.
U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Brian Peplinski, a native of Bay City, Mich., said having nurses on the team to help with critical patients ultimately helps achieve their goal – to save lives.
“[Having nurses attached to medevac units in high operation areas] is good for the patients,” said Peplinski, “At the end of the day taking care of people – U.S. military, contractors, coalition forces and those in need - is what it's all about.”
Peplinski said he feels extremely lucky to have the nurses working with Dustoff.
“They are very talented additions to the team,” said Peplinski, “The nurses provide an extra set of hands in critical situations that has repeatedly made a difference in patient care and outcomes.”
Every six months, five nurses travel from stateside hospitals, such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Madigan Army Medical Center, to serve with medevac units to provide en route critical care for patients in Afghanistan.
These highly skilled nurses undergo a wealth of training upon arrival to their Dustoff team including training on the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, emergency procedures, medical equipment familiarization, as well as receive classes in the areas of administering medication and trauma care.
The flight nurses are trained to the level of a non-rated crew member. They complete a myriad of tasks from attending crew member briefs, cleaning windows and ensuring all medical equipment is functional.
U.S. Army Capt. Tanesha Richardson, of Louisville, Ky., just completed her six-month tour with the company and said she is leaving Afghanistan as a more-rounded nurse.
“This experience has been very rewarding,” said Richardson, “I’ve become more knowledgeable and independent. I now understand why certain things were done for the patient. I can see the bigger picture of what the patient has gone through.”
As Richardson, and the four other nurses who accompanied her to Afghanistan, end their deployment and prepare to return to the hospital environment of the States, she shared some of the complex situations she faced when she first got to the unit.
“One of the most challenging things for me was learning how to assess the patient in the dark while flying,” said Richardson. “You have to gather the information in a different way.”
U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Taylor, one of the newly arrived nurses on the Dustoff team, agreed with Richardson. He said the challenge would lie in the new surroundings.
“I think the most difficult thing about this tour will be adapting to a new environment,” said Taylor, a native of Mokena, Ill.
The nurses said they are well aware they will not have the controlled atmosphere that a hospital offers – such as proper lighting and a broad range of medical supplies at the ready; however, Taylor expressed confidence in the new team of nurses.
Taylor is certain that the next six months will be successful for them because of the knowledge and experience they already possess.
“[Nurses] have the skill set needed to do the job well,” he said. “It’s just a matter of applying and doing it in this environment.”
All of the nurses who have served with Dustoff, in Regional Command – East, are among the first Army nurses to receive the Air Medal for Service and Basic Army Aviation Badge.
Richardson said this experience provided her with knowledge that she will utilize stateside when caring for patients.
“I think by performing my duties with [Dustoff] my skills as a nurse have broadened and given me a better understanding of injuries,” said Richardson, “It has given me a better understanding of what patients have been through from start to finish.”
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2011 18:25 |
| Story ID: | 73872 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,681 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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