Site MapMedical students put their classroom study to the test
Story by Maria Gallegos
Published April 2, 2012
Photos by Maria Gallegos
Practical nurse students respond to a student role playing as an Afghan woman, who came in with abdominal injuries in a mass casualty exercise at Camp Bullis, Feb 29. The participants included 45 PNC students and 11 staff who instructed and advised the students throughout the training. The exercise encompassed all types of training scenarios, so the students can familiarize themselves in applying first line trauma care in combat situations.
Karen Ulrich (right), hospital education M6 instructor, reviews a checklist with Spc. Barbara Villapano, a PNC student, on a stimulated patient she treated."
Sgt. Nathan Moss, a PNC student, carries an injured infant mannequin to a mock combat support hospital during a mass casualty exercise at Camp Bullis, Feb 29."
Spc. Denise Kramer, a PNC student, diagnoses a stimulated patient."
Students from the Practical Nurse Course (PNC) put their classroom learning to a test in a simulated mass casualty exercise held at Camp Bullis.
The scenario played out Feb. 29 with stimulated trauma patients arriving at a mocked remote combat support hospital waiting to be treated by health care specialists in a mass casualty environment.
The exercise encompassed all types of training scenarios, so the students can familiarize themselves in applying first line trauma care in combat situations.
"My intent for this training is to conduct a simulated mass casualty event for the senior 68WM6 [Health Care Specialist (68W) and Practical Nurse (M6)] students in order to energize and engage their newly obtained nursing knowledge and skill sets," said Cpt. Monique Grinnell, PNC Phase II instructor, who organized and oversaw the group's preparation. "The overall goal for this exercise is to train these students to review this year's training in a comprehensive practical exercise."
The participants included 45 PNC students and 11 staff who instructed and advised the students throughout the training.
"This training provided a lot of good exposure for these students. It was an eye opener for many who had never experienced a real combat hospital setting," said Poke Viera, hospital education M6 instructor.
"Half of these students have never been deployed, so introducing this type of training gives them an experience of what it is like when they are out in the battlefield," said Capt. Megan Donald, SAMMC's staff nurse.
The 52-week course includes two phases.
Phase I is an eight weeks course completed at the Army Medical Department Center and School on Fort Sam Houston.
Phase II is a 44-week course that focus on clinical care that are completed in one of five different sites including SAMMC, Madigan Army Medical Center, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
After the completion of the PNC course, the graduates are enable to provide first line trauma care on the battlefield, perform as members of Forward Surgical Teams, and function in an expanded and supporting roles in a Combat Support Hospitals and fixed medical facilities.
"This was a great experience for me," said Spc. Ariann Briggs, a PNC student. "It gave me an opportunity to experience what it might be like in a stressful situation overseas."