For over 116 years Army nurses have been providing selfless service and quality care to Soldiers, Family members and other beneficiaries.
The Army Nurse Corps was officially founded Feb. 2, 1901, to take care of soldiers "on the battlefield and at home.
To mark the special occasion, Medical Department Activity - Alaska nurses and other staff members gathered Feb 2 to celebrate the Army Nurse Corps birthday and the dedication of Army nurses around the globe.
The celebration, revolving around the theme of "Leading Readiness and Professional Practices; Getting it Done Since 1901," featured a video presentation from Maj. Gen. Barbara R. Holcomb, chief, Army Nurse Corps.
Holcomb called on the attendees to take the day to reflect on the generations of Army Nurse Corps officer who have served and entrusted future nurses with preserving their great legacy of professionalism, innovation and caring.
"We have come a long way in 116 years," said Holcomb, "and Army nurses today serving today in both traditional nursing roles and in special positions such as supporting special operations in Africa, working on Capitol Hill shaping healthcare policy and serving on joint and critical-care missions just to name a few."
Holcomb concluded her presentation thanking those in the Army Nurse Corps.
"I want to thank each and every member of the Army nursing team for your commitment, competence, compassion and professionalism," said Holcomb.
Local leaders continued this thanks and recognition by awarding several members of the MEDDAC-AK nursing team with local, regional and national awards.
Capt. Nicole Evans, clinical staff nurse at Bassett ACH, was awarded the Ruth M. Gardiner Award for her excelling in nursing practice, innovation and nursing leadership. The Ruth M. Gardiner award is named after Lt. Gardiner who was killed in an air crash while on a MEDEVAC mission near Naknek, Alaska in 1943.
On the regional level, Lt. Col. Jerremie Siegfried, officer in charge of the maternal newborn unit at Bassett ACH was presented with a $500 check as the Regional Health Command -- Pacific Evangeline G. Bovard award, designed to recognize an outstanding Army nurse each year. The award was established by the late Col. Robert Skelton in 1956 in tribute to his wife, who was an Army nurse.
Ms. Chiara Murrell, nurse practitioner at Preventive Medicine, received national recognition as the Daisy Award winner for the first quarter. Ms. Murrell, was chosen as the recipient for her outstanding awareness and recognizing the often overlooked early warning signs of prostate cancer. Her actions directly resulted in a positive outcome by early surgical intervention for a MEDDAC-AK beneficiary. The award, was created in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes after he was hospitalized for eight weeks before succumbing to an auto immune disease. His family created the National Daisy Award to express gratitude to nurses for the work they do for patients and their families every day.
For more information on the Army Nurse Corps, go to http://armynursecorps.amedd.army.mil/.
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