German army nurses integrate with hospital during exercise

By Capt. Daniel Boone and Maj. Mary Andrea UgaddanJune 3, 2015

German army nurses integrate with hospital during exercise
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Kevin Floyd, rear right, and Maj. Paul Masters, front left, of the 212th Combat Support Hospital, treat a trauma patient, who was evacuated to the Role III Hospital with German nurses Noelle Franklin, rear left, and Kim Valez, front right, durin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
German army nurses integrate with hospital during exercise
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
German army nurses integrate with hospital during exercise
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German army nurses integrate with hospital during exercise
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Paul Masters, left, clinical nurse officer in charge, Emergency Medical Treatment Team, 212th Combat Support Hospital, shows German nurse Noelle Franklin, right, the proper use and various settings of the Zoll defibrillator machine during Exerci... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (June 2, 2015) -- German army nurses are training side by side with the 212th Combat Support Hospital, or CHS, medics and nurses during Exercise Combined Resolve IV. The training, which began May 27, will end June 3.

Combined Resolve IV, or CbR IV, is Europe's joint readiness training for a simulated wartime mission for rotational combat arms units together with 4,700 participants from 13 NATO and allied partners. The 212th CSH, along with the 30th Medical Brigade, is exercising its medical capabilities in support of unified operations for the region.

Kim Valez and Noelle Franklin are both oncology nurses at the German Military Central Hospital located in Koblenz. Holding the rank of "Oberfeldwebel," equivalent to staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, Valez and Franklin have nothing but positive things to say about the exercise so far.

"I'm amazed at how everything is rolling together," Franklin said. "Everyone in the CSH is smart, shows great teamwork, and has complete trust in one another."

Valez said that the biggest difference between the German military hospitals and the 212 CSH, were the many specialties.

"In the German army, after nursing graduation, nurses can work in any section of the hospital," Valez said. "We are also cross-trained to work in other sections. I am an oncology nurse, but I can also work in the surgical department."

With the U.S. Army, nurses start off with a one-year internship, where they cross-train in the various wards, but once a nurse becomes specialized in an area, that is usually the place they will work as long as they remain in a clinical environment.

In the first few days, Valez and Franklin worked with CSH's emergency medical team. By the end of the exercise, they will also have worked in the intermediate care ward.

As the only CSH forward-deployed in Europe, the 212th Combat Support Hospital continues to be at the forefront of global medical interoperability by constantly training with allied partners.

In April, the 212th trained with nine other NATO and allied partner countries during the live surgical exercise. This time, the 212th CSH is synchronizing its training with the 30th Medical Brigade and the other combat arms units it supports throughout the European theater.

Related Links:

Army.mil: Europe News

30th MED BDE Web Page

212th CSH on FaceBook

30th MED BDE on FaceBook