FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Military and civilian medical personnel gathered for a celebration of the 114th year of the Army Nurse Corps at Weed Army Community Hospital here, Feb. 2.
Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and leadership with United States Army Medical Department Activity here commemorated the anniversary, which has a theme this year of "The Army Nursing Team: Demonstrating the courage to care, connect and change for 114 years."
First Lt. Michele Shimko, a registered nurse with Post Anesthesia Care Unit of MEDDAC, narrated the ceremony and recounted the beginning of nursing in the United States military.
"The Army Nurse Corps has a rich and extensive history dating back many years before the corps was officially established in 1901," Shimko said. "General George Washington asked Congress in 1775 for nurses to tend to the sick and obey the matron's order, and a matron to supervise the nurses, bedding and other needs. Each nurse was responsible for the complete care of 10 patients, while originally earning $2 a month and only one ration per day."
Shimko explained that Congress created the Army Nurse Corps on Feb. 2, 1901. The original corps consisted of only women, but they were not commissioned as officers. She summarized service by nurses in conflicts from World War I to Vietnam to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Describing Army nurses as extremely talented and professional, she stated that nurses "will continue to provide competent and knowledgeable care to our fellow Soldiers, family members and civilians."
Deputy commander of Nursing Services with MEDDAC, Col. Cathy Walter, addressed the audience and said that nurses leave a lasting impression on people who have been under their care. She explained that Wounded Warriors often give credit to nurses when recovering from injuries.
"We touch lives every single day," said Walter, who has served for more than 24 years.
Walter spoke about nursing attributes that makes the corps successful, such as collaboration, reliability, organization and compassion. One objective of nursing is getting patients to an optimal state of health, and nurses continue to improve care by using technology and evidence-based practices. The goal of nursing here is to care for family members, Soldiers here on rotation, Soldiers of this installation, and civilians.
The commander of MEDDAC, Col. Jason Wieman, expressed appreciation to Walter and medical staff of his organization.
"I've always been very inspired by people who serve selflessly," Wieman said. "The whole class of nurses in here fits into that category -- always watching everything, always making sure everything goes well, doing it from behind the scenes, making sure things go well without really looking for any acknowledgement for themselves."
The ceremony concluded with a cake cutting featuring an Army tradition that invites the senior and junior members of an organization to perform the honors. Walter and 1st Lt. Alene Gregerson, staff registered nurse since Oct. 2014, sliced the cake.
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