Army Nurses' Experiences as Faculty and Students' Perceptions of Military Nursing

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To explore the experiences of Army Nurse Corps (ANC) officers who were assigned as faculty at the University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Nursing (UMBSON), as well as explore the experiences of students being taught by ANC faculty. A secondary purpose was to identify factors that influence an undergraduate student's decision-making process about pursuing a military career. Design: This study used a mixed methods approach. In phase one, qualitative interviews were conducted with ANC faculty utilizing a phenomenological approach. In phase two, the Career Decision Making Inventory was administered to students and students were recruited for qualitative interviews which explored their experiences with ANC faculty. Methods: Data were collected using open-ended questions in interviews lasting 45 to 60 minutes. A career decision-making questionnaire was administered to students. Sample: There were six ANC faculty and 14 students interviewed. There were 251 usable surveys returned. Analysis: Qualitative data were analyzed using Colaizzi's method and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive, bivariate, and t-tests were used in the analysis. Findings: The Army nurses (n=6) experiences had three themes: transitioning from an Army environment to an academic environment; transforming faculty attitudes about the military; and realizing great personal rewards. The student interviews (n=14) yielded six themes: strict, structured and disciplined; the context of military life; a higher calling; understanding the military uniform; performing as competent instructors; and the person behind the uniform. A response rate of 73% resulted in a sample of 251 students. The findings indicated that exposure to ANC faculty did influence students perceptions of nursing in general and of military nursing. Implications for Military Nursing: This has been an extremely successful partnership between the ANC and the UMDSON.