War time experiences of triage and resuscitation: Australian Army nurses in the Vietnam War, 1967–1971

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

“…These findings lend support to other research (Norman 1986, 1989, Baker et al. 1989, Bierdermann & Harvey 2001) that appropriate and realistic training was perceived as crucially important to reduced risks to personal safety, vulnerability to PTSD, provide culturally competent care and demonstrate adequate trauma skills. However, in Norman's work, six of 50 nurses said that they could not speak about the issue of training because they could not imagine what a future war would be like.…”

“…However, in Norman's work, six of 50 nurses said that they could not speak about the issue of training because they could not imagine what a future war would be like. Additionally, Bierdermann and Harvey's (2001) study described lack of training and clinical inexperience in a sample of Australian Army nurses, not US nurses.…”

“…In a similar study of 17 Australian Army nurses, investigators found lack of clinical experience and trauma training contributed to significant emotional distress (Biedermann et al. 2001, Bierdermann & Harvey 2001).…”

The wartime experience of Australian Army nurses in Vietnam, 1967–1971

“…However, it soon became highly apparent that the soldiers were neglecting their ordered anti‐malaria discipline, predisposing themselves to increased risk of malaria. The number of malaria cases continued to rise rapidly, and for the month of October, 258 malaria cases were diagnosed among Australian and New Zealand troops (O’Keefe 1994, Biedermann 2001). In November, the number of diagnosed cases reduced to 105 (Biedermann 2001).…”

“…In the calendar year of 1969, hospital admissions rose significantly compared with the previous year, despite the effect of the malaria crisis in 1968. The number of admissions in 1969 was 3839, that is a rate of 534·9 per 1000 men (O’Keefe 1994, Biedermann 2001), ensuring that the hospital ran virtually at full bed occupancy for the majority of the year. Despite this intensity, the nature of nursing in the wards like surgical and medical, as well as intensive care and theatre changed very little during this period, except that 8‐hour shifts became standard practice (apart from in intensive care where two nursing sisters rotated 12‐hour shifts).…”