Deployment experiences of Army nurse practitioners

Army Nurse Practitioners (NPs) provide immediate and lifesaving care during combat operations. The most recent conflicts of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have seen an increasing number of NP deployments. The uniqueness of these conflicts has also seen NPs being used in nontraditional roles. This study surveyed 50 Army NPs with deployment experience to explore and elucidate their clinical practices in a combat environment. Over 70% reported seeing greater than 11 patients a day with the top three diagnoses of musculoskeletal/soft tissue (noncombat), spinal pain (mechanical, sciatica), and gastrointestinal complaints. Over 74% reported having a physician available for collaboration, but 50% reported providing independent emergency care and 58% treating life-threatening injuries. The NPs in this study report standard credentialing privileges with most care falling within this realm. However, a few report nontraditional roles such as hospital admitting privileges. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on NP practice in a combat environment, which shows increased decision making and advanced clinical skills. NPs are battlefield multipliers who bring additional skills and abilities to the combat environment.