Tuskegee University News January 31, 2014 Army Nurse Corps’ 113th anniversary celebrated Army nurses are often on the front lines of health care for America’s fighting men and women and Tuskegee honored their years of service today. The Army ROTC and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health marked the 113th anniversary of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps with a program and recruitment event. The program included a panel discussion in Basil O’Connor Hall with Army nurses and brigade nurse counselors. There was also a set-up of field hospital equipment that students could tour and get info about trauma and everyday medical care. Complete with a working patient model, the set-up included vital sign monitors, suction kits, oxygen tanks, power supplies, and medical supply bags. With equipment meant to be durable and portable, the field hospital can be self-sustaining in the direst of conditions. These hospitals are the first line of medical care for injured and ill soldiers on the battlefield. “Hopefully, this [display] will dispel any misconceptions about the Army and its medical care. The Army is going to spend any amount of dollars to ensure that we have cutting edge technology,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Hobbs, a medical department recruiter stationed in Columbus, Ga. Col. Teresa Townsend, Tuskegee’s Army ROTC recruiting operations officer said seeing the field hospital was also an excellent experience for students who plan to go into civilian health care. “This is really a professional development opportunity,” Townsend said. “[Civilian nurses] can be in severe weather and hurricanes and need this information.” Tuskegee Army ROTC alumna, Col. Crystal Chatman-Brown, was the keynote speaker for the event. She is a staff officer at Brooke Army Medical Hospital and has served 27 years in the Army. She said the Army is one of the greatest places to be a nurse and may offer more opportunities and latitude than civilian medical centers. “The Army is the future of nursing,” Chatman-Brown said. “Army nurses have the opportunity to serve as CEOs of hospitals. We call them commanders, but they are the equivalent of CEOs.” Chatman-Brown spoke to the students about principles that would aid them on their career track such as maintaining core values, developing critical thinking skills, being competent, nurturing connections, and being compassionate. “Nursing is compassion and compassion is nursing. They go hand in hand,” she said. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.