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***image1***Future Army Nurse Corps Officer Sarah Greenberg traveled more than 4,200 miles from Cedarville University in Ohio to participate in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Nurse Summer Program at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Cadet Greenberg, along with eight other cadets, arrived at LRMC during the July 4th weekend for the voluntary three-week clinical elective for Army ROTC nurse cadets.
The program provides nursing students, after their third year of college, a progressive experience that will align them with the duties and expectations of a junior Army Nurse Corps officer.
“I think this is an excellent program because it gives me an idea of what my life will be like in a little over a year,” Cadet Greenberg said. “Our preceptors have helped us get as much hands-on experience as possible while we are on
the wards.”
Under the supervision of experienced Army Nurse Corps officers, these cadets received one-on-one training designed to allow them to sharpen their clinical technique and become confident in their professional skills as a member of the U.S. Army healthcare team. The training program assigned cadets to Army hospitals throughout the United States and Germany and introduced them to the roles and responsibilities of an Army nurse.
“Everyone wants to come to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. I get to experience things here that I wouldn’t normally experience until my senior year,” Cadet Greenberg said. The cadet was able to train on several wards, such as the mother-baby unit, but said her favorite was the intensive care unit.
“It’s a whole different level of care. It challenges my critical care nursing skills. I am really interested in working with the wounded Soldiers; it is a unique med-surge experience as opposed to a clinical setting.”
“This is a very positive program for future Nurse Corps officers,” said Maj. Patricia Born, program coordinator. “My opinion, after doing this program the past three years, is that it is a great retention/recruiting tool to set the tone and ensure a future Army nursing career. In view of the worldwide nursing shortage, this program is a definite plus in recruiting future nurses.”
The cadets had a graduation/farewell July 31 where they received their certificate of completion. Cadet Greenberg said she will be able to apply the valuable techniques she has learned in her future nursing career when she graduates from Cedarville University in May 2009. For more information about the ROTC nursing program visit www.goarmy.com/rotc/nurse_program.jsp
