The military nurse experience in Vietnam: Stress and impact

Abstract

Demographic, health, and psychosocial data from two studies are presented on military nurses assigned to Vietnam. Army nurse subjects in the first study were grouped for comparison on three major variables: assignment to Vietnam before versus after the 1968 TET Offensive, type of nursing duties performed, and years of experience as a registered nurse (RN) prior to assignment in Vietnam. The second study compared another group of Army nurses with a group of Air Force and Navy nurses also assigned to Vietnam. Army nurses with less than two years RN experience prior to their assignment were found to be more at risk for such negative outcomes as difficulty establishing personal relationships and difficulty coping with stressful situations. Stress experiences, career dissatisfaction data, and health problems of military nurses and their children are reported. Also described are positive experiences of nurses in developing personal relationships in a rewarding professional environment.

Selection of Key Stressors to Develop Virtual Environments for Practicing Stress Management Skills with Military Personnel Prior to Deployment

“…13 In the case of females, the traumatic event could also imply being the target of sexual harassment or sexual assault by their male colleagues. 80 Rape, regardless of gender, has been consistently found to be one of the most pathogenic traumas. 81 For example, Kilpatrick et al found that crimes involving a rape, physical injuries, and threat to the victim's life increase the likelihood of the victim developing PTSD by 8.5 times compared to crimes in which these three factors are not present.…”

Postdeployment

“…5,6 These two factors, coupled with other challenges, could have a negative impact on their mental and physical health. Many return to nursing positions where they care for those injured in the war or where they can't practice with the same level of autonomy.…”

Lessons learned and advice from Vietnam war nurses: a qualitative study

“…Baker et al. (1989) investigated stressful war experiences in 20 Army nurses in regard to hospital duties, prior clinical experience, period of war service, and PTSD symptoms.…”