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Preparing British Military nurses to deliver nursing care on deployment. An Afghanistan Study.
Finnegan, Alan Finnegan, Sara Bates, David Ritsperis, Debra McCourt, Kath Thomas, Mike
Finnegan, Alan
Finnegan, Sara
Bates, David
Ritsperis, Debra
McCourt, Kath
Thomas, Mike
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2015-01-05
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Abstract
Background: This paper forms part of the first British Armed forces qualitative nursing research study undertaken on deployment.
Aim: To provide an analysis of the impact and effectiveness of the pre-deployment educational preparation and
clinical placements provided for military nurses.
Theory & methods: A Constructivist Grounded Theory was utilised with data collected through semi-structured
interviews with 18 nurses based in Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan during 2013.
Results: Initial coding indicated 21 educational preparation and clinical placement categories that influenced the
delivery of nursing care. Analysis of these elements led to the identification of four major clusters: Military
Nursing Care; Military Nurse Education; Unique Hospital Environment and Clinical Placements.
Discussion: Educational preparation consists of completing deployable operational nursing competencies, specialist
training and individual tailored courses. This strategywas viewed as proving the appropriate academic requirement.
However, training would be enhanced by introducing a formalised military preceptorship
programme focussing on fundamental nursing skills. Caring for children was a particular concern, and it was
emphasised that educational courses must be combined with a standardised clinical placement policy.
Adequate clinical exposure can be challenging as nurses are not routinely exposed to War Zone levels of trauma
in the UK. Clinical placements need to be standardised and harmonised, and located in areas where nurses cared
for patientswith similar injury patterns to thosewitnessed on deployment. Current NHS Trust placements can reduce
the opportunities for employment in suitable clinical environments and diminishing the openings for collective
military training. Better use should bemade of clinical rotation programmes, including high dependency units,
elective surgery, medical assessment units, paediatrics, and outreach teams such as burns and plastic surgery and
pain management. Practice Educators should be utilised to provide education, mentorship, supervision and continuing
personal development in the operational arena. The paper considers post-Afghanistan future options.
Citation
Finnegan, A., et. al. (2015). Preparing British Military nurses to deliver nursing care on deployment. Nurse Education Today, 35(1), 104-112. DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2014.07.008
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Nurse Education Today
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Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
0260-6917
EISSN
1532-2793