Army Nurse Corps History Home > Army Nursing History in Pictures > History of the Army Nurse Corps,Slide Presentation with Narration
HISTORY OF THE ARMY NURSE CORPS
(Slide Presentation with Narration)
LET'S MOVE NOW TO THE 70'S AND 80'S
The ANC emerged from its Vietnam experience with a renewed drive to meet and exceed the challenges of a growing profession. The Corps embraced enhancing the quality of care through clinical
specialization and expanded nursing roles. Army Medical Department courses ranging from 16 weeks to 2 years in length, educated eight categories of nursing specialists. These were
ICU, psychiatric-mental health, community health, Operating Room,
anesthesiology, pediatrics, OB-GYN, and ambulatory care. By 1976, in concert with the ANA's position regarding entry into practice, all newly commissioned officers on active duty in the ANC were required to possess a baccalaureate degree.
Once again history was made when Brigadier General Hazel W. Johnson became the first Black woman general in the history of the U.S. Army, in Sep 1979. Following her promotion, she was sworn in as the 16th Chief of the Army Nurse Corps.
In recent years, officers of the Corps have participated in numerous activities throughout the world to include many humanitarian missions:
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1976 ANC's traveled to the Middle East to advise nurses of the Royal Jordanian Medical Corps.
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They participated in the evacuation and care of the Indo- Chinese refugees during "Operation New Life", and "Operation New Arrivals".
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1980 cared for Cuban refugees
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Since 1982, an ANC has been a member of the Multi-national observer force in the Sinai.
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1983 ANC officers supported combat forces in Grenada.
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1987 ANC officers were a part of the maiden voyage of the USNS Mercy.
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1989 ANC officers supported forces in Panama.
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Also in 89, three AN's from the Burn Unit went to Russia to care for 100 burn patients injured in a gas explosion and train wreck, and an AN assisted with relief efforts following Hurricane Hugo here in the U.S.
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And of course we have our Army Nurses in Honduras.
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A wave of professional growth has carried the Corps through the 80's. The evidence is apparent both in
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professional nursing and professional soldiering roles.
Although Army Nurse Corps officers have attended senior Army schools since 1967, there has been an upsurge in completion of
military schools and the development of short courses providing military nursing topics since 1981. Course content in many clinical and leadership courses turned more frequently toward field and combat casualty care applications. In 1989 the Army's
first DEPMEDS hospital was fielded.
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