Home at Last: U.S. Military Nurses Transition to Civilian Practice

Maruca, Annette T.

Monday, 31 October 2011

Annette T. Maruca, MS, RN-BC
School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify key aspects of transition experience for military nurses.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify global practices that effectively support military nurses during transition to civilian nursing.

Purpose: The aim of this pilot study was to understand the experience of transition for military nurses who have reintegrated to civilian nursing practice from military nursing practice. Rationale: It is this enlightenment and appreciation of the military nurses’ transition that will enable civilian nurses to support reintegration with a helping and caring hand. The current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan include military nurses who may also be redeployed to combat zones. With knowledge and understanding of their wartime experience, civilian nurses can support our colleagues as they transition and reintegrate into civilian nursing practice in a caring, collaborative and helpful manner.

Methodology: Colaizzi’s (1978) descriptive phenomenology was the qualitative research method chosen to understand and describe military nurses’ experience of transitioning from military practice to civilian practice.

Sample: A purposive sample was used consisting of three female military nurses’ who met the sample criteria of being 20 years of age or older and having served as a military nurse who has returned to civilian nursing practice. There was no exclusion based on branch of service, length of service or specific war. The small sample size was sufficient for a pilot study.

Findings: There were five themes that emerged from thematic analysis: 1) A different way of thinking, 2) Role clarity to role confusion, 3) A questionable welcome, 4) Loss of independence and authority and 5) Lack of cohesiveness.

Recommendations for future research: There are distinct differences in the culture of military nursing and civilian nursing that military nurses' understand and appreciate however less so for civilian nurses. Future research on this transition will emphasize the importance for nurses globally to appreciate and understand the variances between these two types of nursing. This awareness will help nursing to better employ the contributions that our military nurses bring to the workforce.

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