Air Force nurses welcome Iraqi colleagues, share skills

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  Seventeen Iraqi medical care providers recently attended the December installment of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's Iraqi Nursing Partnership Program here.

As the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq continues, the program is intended to further the medical capabilities of local care providers.

"I really believe this program will improve the nursing care in Iraq," said Col. Vennessa Hagan, 332nd EMDG chief nurse. "Some of the nurses who have attended told me they've benefited from the program and have been sharing the knowledge with other nurses in their community."

The nursing staff at the Air Force Theater Hospital started the program with a carefully considered syllabus. By enlisting the help of a local nursing instructor, they were able to determine the needs of the local community and develop an effective course structure.

Rather than simply giving away consumable supplies, the Airmen focused on providing education for both local nursing students and Iraqis who have already obtained their nursing degree.

The Iraqi students learned about infection control, burn care, labor and delivery, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems, plus pediatrics.

To supplement the verbal instruction, the class also included a series of hands-on learning stations. The Iraqi students practiced proper hand-washing, donning gowns and gloves, measuring vital signs, giving injections, dressing burn wounds, and performing intravenous therapy.

One of the attendees, a local midwife, stressed the importance of absorbing knowledge from her American counterparts.

"We need this support," she said. "We want to learn how to handle different medical issues. This class allows us to learn more and progress in our careers. This class is so helpful, so useful."

Although the instructors and attendees had to overcome a cultural barrier, Colonel Hagan noticed sociable relationships forming between the medical colleagues.

"Education is a core competency of nursing," she said, "and the relationships we're building here enhance both teaching and learning."

The AFTH staff and the Iraqi nurses both acknowledged their common goal to further the overall education of local medical professionals.

"We care about the people of Iraq," said Capt. Elizabeth Hoettels, 332nd EMDG civil-military operations officer. "We've taken care of many of the Iraqi people in our hospital, and we want to give the nurses in the community the knowledge and skills required to provide excellent nursing care when we are no longer here. With continued education, patients can be transferred from the AFTH to local medical facilities for continued and follow-up care once the acute phase of their illness or injury is resolved."

Although more than 50 man-hours are put forth to provide each class, the instructors know their efforts can have far-reaching and long-term benefits.

"I am proud to receive this certificate," said one of the Iraqi nurses. "And I will tell my clinic what I have learned."