FEATUREPrimary Care <strong>Nursing</strong>The Pitt Anes<strong>the</strong>tists<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 345th CSH, Iraq2 university <strong>of</strong> Pittsburgh
Primary Care <strong>Nursing</strong>Far from home and family life, in an environment soaustere that <strong>the</strong> landscape sometimes seems plucked fromano<strong>the</strong>r planet, University <strong>of</strong> Pittsburgh-trained <strong>nurses</strong> areworking on <strong>the</strong> front lines <strong>of</strong> Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thesemen and women <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> military are providing <strong>care</strong> to U.S.troops and Iraqi locals, and—in some cases—medical trainingto both U.S. and Iraqi personnel. Their stories vary with <strong>the</strong>ircircumstances, but <strong>the</strong>y share common ground in <strong>the</strong> training<strong>the</strong>y received at <strong>the</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong>, which infuses <strong>the</strong>vital work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir commitment in <strong>the</strong> Middle East.For many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> six Pitt-trained <strong>nurses</strong> within <strong>the</strong> ranks<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> U.S. Army’s 345th Combat Support Hospital’s anes<strong>the</strong>siadepartment, a 90-day mission in Iraq represents <strong>the</strong>ir firstoverseas deployment. After months <strong>of</strong> advanced training, <strong>the</strong>yfind <strong>the</strong>mselves traveling across multiple locations treatingwar zone casualties.The group, which includes Captain John Jones (BSN ’99,MSN ’01), Captain Bill Teskey (BSN ’98, MSN ’02), CaptainKurt Kline (BSN ’01, MSN ’04), Captain Scott Pearson (BSN’98, MSN ’05), First Lieutenant Brian Keller (MSN ’06), andFirst Lieutenant Jason Trudell (MSN ’06), wrote a letter to <strong>the</strong><strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> describing <strong>the</strong> severe conditions <strong>of</strong> life in Iraq.“Deploying to Iraq was a shock for each <strong>of</strong> us, especially<strong>the</strong> heat. Our arrival in July slapped us all in <strong>the</strong> face with130+ degree daily high temperatures,” <strong>the</strong>y wrote. “The heatcan best be mimicked by turning your oven to broil, opening<strong>the</strong> door and putting your head inside while aiming a hair dryerat your face.”The group also has endured almost weekly sandstorms,which <strong>the</strong>y compared to taking a full bag out <strong>of</strong> a vacuum cleaner“and hitting it like a piñata while a fan blows directly at it.”For as far as <strong>the</strong>y can see in any direction, <strong>the</strong> landscape issand: no terrain features or vegetation <strong>of</strong> any kind. In <strong>the</strong> letter,<strong>the</strong>y compare it to <strong>the</strong> surface <strong>of</strong> Mars.Opposite page caption: Captains John Jones (BSN ’99, MSN ’01),Bill Teskey (BSN ’98, MSN ’02); Kurt Klein (BSN ’01, MSN ’04), andScott Pearson (BSN ’98, MSN ’05), and First Lieutenants BrianKeller (MSN ’06) and Jason Trudell (MSN ’06) met up in Kuwait.When daytime highs dropped to 110 degrees, <strong>the</strong> groupwas relieved. “Apparently we have acclimatized,” <strong>the</strong>y wrote,though <strong>the</strong>y added, “Given <strong>the</strong> heat, it is a constant challengeto stay hydrated.”The group trained at Brooke Army Medical Center in SanAntonio, Texas, where <strong>the</strong>y networked with a variety <strong>of</strong> practitionersranging from surgeons and anes<strong>the</strong>sia providersto intensive <strong>care</strong> and emergency <strong>nurses</strong>.“In <strong>the</strong>se interactions with <strong>the</strong> providers <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r specialties,we each discovered how thorough and complete our educationat Pitt had been,” <strong>the</strong>y wrote. “We can each say with confidencethat <strong>the</strong> didactic and clinical experiences gained in Pitt’s NurseAnes<strong>the</strong>sia Program are second to none.”The hospital staff includes people from 44 states in <strong>the</strong>union covering cases ranging from simple sedation and regionalanes<strong>the</strong>sia to anes<strong>the</strong>sia for major trauma. They also work toeducate <strong>the</strong> clinical <strong>nursing</strong> and allied health staff in topicssuch as anes<strong>the</strong>sia, resuscitation, and trauma. In addition to all<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se responsibilities, <strong>the</strong> group is involved in certification<strong>of</strong> basic, advanced cardiac, and pediatric advanced life supporttaking place in <strong>the</strong>ater.The <strong>nurses</strong> participate in didactic education meetings withlocal Iraqi physicians and <strong>nurses</strong> and, in August, taught basiclife support and basic and advanced airway management to <strong>the</strong>resident and attending physicians <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local teaching hospital.They also are working on a comprehensive educational programfor Iraqi citizens who are interested in becoming <strong>nurses</strong>, whichare absent from Iraq’s current health <strong>care</strong> system. Typically, Iraqidoctors manage individual patients, and routine bedside <strong>care</strong> isprovided mainly by family members. Through <strong>the</strong>ir educationalmeetings, <strong>the</strong> <strong>nurses</strong> hope to demonstrate <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nurseas a health <strong>care</strong> provider and ensure that patients are safe andreceive appropriate treatment.The group expressed gratitude to <strong>the</strong>ir families, employers,and o<strong>the</strong>rs for supporting <strong>the</strong>ir mission.“It is nothing short <strong>of</strong> an honor to be taking <strong>care</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>troops tasked with <strong>the</strong> duties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> front line,” <strong>the</strong> <strong>nurses</strong> wrote.“The risks <strong>the</strong>y take and responsibility <strong>the</strong>y shoulder each day is<strong>beyond</strong> comprehension. In <strong>the</strong> event <strong>the</strong>y need medical <strong>care</strong> <strong>of</strong>any kind, <strong>the</strong>y are met with strong providers and an enthusiasm<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest degree.”Pitt Nurse spring 2009 3
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