Abstract
Purpose: This phenomenological study described the lived experience and aftermath of U.S. military nurses assigned enemy detainees during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Two themes emerged: Insurgent Assignments (subthemes included identification of and interactions with insurgents; training, precautions, and ethical issues, thoughts and feelings, coping, and meanings of insurgent care) and The Aftermath (subthemes were mental, emotional, personal, professional, and positive). Conclusions: Insurgent assignments caused ethical dilemmas and challenged theoretical constructs related to caring. Formal training is needed to prepare nurses for the practicalities of and responses to insurgent assignments.
This work is the dissertation manuscript of Sharon Thompson, completed by faculty members in the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Tyler. A final, published version of this article can be viewed at: https://doi.org/10.20467/1091-5710-18.2.61
Date of publication
8-2013
Document Type
Dissertation
Language
english
Persistent identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/593
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Sharon; Mastel-Smith, Beth; Duke, Gloria; Haas, Barbara K.; Vardaman, Shellye; and Yarbrough, Susan, "Military nurses caring for the enemy" (2013). Nursing Theses and Dissertations. Paper 76.
http://hdl.handle.net/10950/593