Memorial Day: Honoring Military Nurses, Too

We honor the soldiers who serve our country so bravely, and we also honor the military nurses who have made such an amazing contribution to our nation.

This year marks the 121st Anniversary of the Army Nurse Corps, the organization charged with training and deploying nurses to warzones. It was established in 1901 in response to the need for an organized military nurse structure. The Army Nurse Corps was created to effectively treat wounded soldiers during wartime. Just prior to the Corps’ inception, a deficit of nurses during the Spanish American War (1898-1902) proved that without a reserve force of caregivers, American troops would suffer dire consequences.

For over a century, these brave men and women have worked tirelessly to save lives during every American war and conflict. They continue to serve on the front lines today and rely on cutting-edge technologies to treat and care for soldiers and civilians in hotspots around the world. There are so many military healthcare professionals who have built prestigious careers while serving their country, such as the one honored in this tribute to a career Army nurse:

Local Alabama paper, the Redstone Rocket reported on Dr. Margaret Bates' 42-year nursing career, 30 of those years being an Army nurse...

The army provided Margaret with many opportunities that she was not expecting for her future. After her first four years, she gained experience in the administrative field where she obtained two master's degrees and a doctorate. She served as commander of Weed Army Hospital, Fort Irwin, California. Continuing to work after her retirement, she took her skills and passion to attend to the needs of wounded warriors where she became the deputy director of the Wounded Warrior Program and became a mentor to many nurses.

Career opportunities for military nurses returning home are excellent. Because travel nursing requires practitioners to think quickly on their feet, adapt to new surroundings, and work effectively under duress, a travel nursing career is ideal for RNs with military training. Travel nurse jobs for military nurses typically pay better than staff positions and come with free private housing, and a slew of desirable benefits. California, Texas and Florida nursing jobs may be particularly appealing to RNs looking for a warm climate and lots of tranquil coastlines. Ohio and Nevada travel nursing is also active right now, for travelers who prefer more centralized locations.