After the casualties: Vietnam nurses' identities and career decisions

This qualitative study explores the effect of the Vietnam War on 50 military nurses' careers. Results indicate that the nurses' responsibilities in stateside hospitals often seemed diminished and patient needs distinct from those of battle casualties. Findings confirm that the nurses' postwar reactions were similar to those of nurse veterans of other wars, and that the year-long exposure to young wounded men in Vietnam directly altered the career choices of 44 nurses.