Deployment experiences of Army nurse practitioners

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Advanced Practice Nursing
• Combat Casualty Care

Background:

• Army Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are increasingly deployed in modern conflicts.
• NPs in combat zones face unique clinical challenges and nontraditional roles.
• Understanding NP practice in austere environments is crucial for optimizing military medical readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and elucidate the clinical practices of Army Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in a combat environment.
• To identify the common diagnoses and patient care patterns encountered by deployed NPs.
• To investigate the extent of independent practice and collaboration among combat-deployed NPs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 50 Army Nurse Practitioners with deployment experience.
• Data collected included patient load, common diagnoses, physician availability, and scope of practice.
• Participant responses were analyzed to describe clinical practices in a combat setting.

Main Results:

• Over 70% of NPs saw more than 11 patients daily, with common diagnoses including musculoskeletal issues, spinal pain, and gastrointestinal complaints.
• While most had physician collaboration (74%), 50% provided independent emergency care, and 58% treated life-threatening injuries.
• NPs reported standard credentialing but also engaged in nontraditional roles, such as hospital admitting privileges.

Conclusions:

• Army NPs in combat environments demonstrate increased decision-making and advanced clinical skills.
• NPs function as critical "battlefield multipliers," enhancing military medical capabilities.
• The study highlights the evolving and expanding role of NPs in supporting combat operations.