DGMC hosts Nurse/Tech Week – “Military Medics: Everyday Heroes”

  • Published
  • By Capt. Theresa Murphy
  • 60th Medical Support Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  David Grant USAF Medical Center will celebrate National Nurse and Medical Technician Appreciation Week Saturday through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

The 60th Medical Group will honor 250 nurses, 21 advanced practice nurses and 276 medical technicians in numerous specialties with various activities.

“We are honored to have Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, Assistant Surgeon General, Medical Force Development and Assistant Surgeon General of Nursing Services and Chief Master Sgt David Lewis, Aerospace Medical Service Career Field Manager, here to kick off our week’s festivities with a proclamation reading stating the importance of observing this week,” stated Lt. Col. Consuella Pockett, 60th Medical Group chief nurse.

“This year’s theme embodies what it means to be a registered nurse today,” said American Nurse Association president Barbara Blakeney.

“Today’s nurses must have the strength to care for patients during times of disaster and crisis; they must have the commitment to remain involved in continuing education throughout their careers; and they must have the compassion it takes to provide hands-on patient care at the bedside – as they have done throughout the centuries,” she added. 

Here at Travis, DGMC nurses and technicians know that military health care is unique and constantly changing. They continually train to keep their peacetime and wartime skills current.

“While nurses and technicians care for more than 308,000 clinic appointments and 5,100 inpatient visits, they also perform life-saving care for any contingency or natural disaster, such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita, humanitarian missions to Guatemala and Manila with the Navy on the USS Mercy, and support for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,” explained Senior Master Sgt. Edward Mooney, 60th Medical Group functional manager.

“They maintain their mission ‘in peace and war, provide the best health services, education and research to improve the readiness and health of those entrusted to our care’ in any location at all times,” stated Sergeant Mooney.

With the safety of patients and the nurses who care for them in mind, ANA has continued to make the goals of its “Handle with Care” campaign a priority.

This initiative, which was launched in 2003, is aimed at persuading hospitals and other health care facilities to adopt no-manual-lift policies and employ assistive-lifting devices in patient handling and care.

Implementing these changes will help address the nation’s growing nursing shortage, by reducing the number of nurses whose careers are cut short because of avoidable injuries, by extending the work life of an aging nursing workforce and by making nursing a more attractive career choice.

As Travis members pass through DGMC during Nurse/Tech Appreciation Week, they should thank a nurse or technician for their hard work, dedication and commitment to giving the best health care possible.

National Nurse/Tech Appreciation Week Activities

-- Today: Nursing Services Luncheon with Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank and Chief Master Sgt. David Lewis at the Delta Breeze Club at 11:15 a.m.

-- Saturday: Special admission price for “Aquamarine” at base theater at 4 p.m [$3 for admission, popcorn and soda].

-- Sunday: Shaggy Dog at base theater at 4 p.m.

-- Monday: Opening breakfast at 6:15 a.m.; Yountville VA home visit from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; venous thromboembolism education at noon.

-- Tuesday: Bone health education at noon; night shift potluck at 6:15 p.m.; movie at the chapel at 7 p.m.

-- Wednesday: Lung cancer education at noon; Travis Chapter of Society of AF Nurses visit from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Paintball from 1 to 4 p.m.

-- Thursday: Random drawing massages from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Night shift event at 7:45 p.m.

-- May 12: “Pie in the Eye” contest and ice cream social TBA