Vietnam War Nurses: Personal Accounts of 18 Americans

by Patricia Rushton (Editor)

Eighteen nurses who served in the United States military nurse corps during the Vietnam War present their personal accounts in this book. They represent all military branches and both genders. They served in the theater of combat, in the United States, and in countries allied with the U.S. They served in front line hospitals, hospital ships, large medical centers and small clinics. They speak of caring for casualties during a conflict filled with controversy--and of patriotism, of the nursing profession, of travel and the adventure of friendship and love.

Genres: History

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Melissa Hedges- Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen interesting viewpoints of a nurse's life in Vietnam during wartime.
Some were brand new nurses, others were experienced before enlisting.

Themes/ and or occurrences that came up for me while reading this book:
1. Abuse or negative reactions to the nurses and servicemen from fellow civilian Americans.

2. Many of the nurses ended up staying in the military after war, a common reason explained was because of the military camaraderie .

3.Being misled by recruiters who promised they would not be sent to Vietnam, but ended up being sent.

Overall, I felt as a reader we got strong sense of what it was like to serve during wartime.

[Emily Robinette · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading The Women, I wanted to know more about military nurses, who they were, how they were trained. As a health science teacher and registered nurse, understanding the history of my profession helps me understand policies and procedures in the nursing field.
I will be a better nurse, teacher and basically a better person after reading the personal stories of these heroic, empathetic nurses.

[Lori Snyder]

My Nurse Practitioner suggested this

Although, I was never in nursing, I am retired AF. As an active duty enlisted troop, I learned plenty, and taught self aid buddy care. Which is nothing (I realize), comparatively, and after retirement, I worked as a bookkeeper in two nursing homes. I learned plenty in the nursing home especially, because I questioned everything, to learn!! So, I had enough info to make me.....confused. Lori

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually I read the paperback version. These accounts of 15 women and 3 men who served during the Vietnam era, not all served in Nam itself, recount their experiences with patients and superiors. Three military branches are represented which show the difference in how each branch treated their nurses. Few men were in the nursing profession for cultural and political reasons.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rewatching China Beach episodes, so wanted a more "realistic" account of reality. Actually, I think China Beach actually got it right - some of the accounts I read about were nearly depicted as described in this book.

[Collins Hemingway · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest, sometimes painful look at nurses in Vietnam

Good detail on individual nurses' lives in Vietnam. Poor editing makes parts confusing. Good overview at start but no comprehensive sense of overall emotional and psychological impact of war on them as whole.

[Vicky Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and EMOTIONAL

Recounts of Vietnam times and events . Educational and informative of their life events plus careers of nurses. How nursing changed over time.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent stories from 18 perspectives, 2 being male nurses. This was referenced in Kristin Hannah's THE WOMEN book which is why I wanted to read this.