Page 20 - QARANC Vol 14 No 10 2015

18 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Exercise Flying Nightingale
In August 2014 QARANC Student Nurses from the Department of Healthcare Education, Defence School of Healthcare Education, attended Exercise Flying Nightingale alongside their Royal Navy and RAF colleagues.
The Exercise took place at Army Medical Services Training Centre (AMSTC) Strensall, York. There were a mixture of different cohorts attending the exercise, all with a variety of military experience, some trade transfers and many direct entrants. The primary focus of this exercise was to refresh student’s military skills and gain an insight into future contingency operations. Throughout the first day students were directed on how to erect a field hospital tent and took part in a major incident role 1 scenario, this enabled students to work under pressure, demonstrate their skills, work in a team and get a better understanding of the patients pathway to role 3 hospitals. Special effects make-up was used to create wounds; this enhanced the experience making the casualties seem more realistic. In the afternoon different activity stations were set up to give student’s the opportunity to brush up on their military skills. Students completed command tasks and casualty evacuations, enabling them to work together as a team in their sections and also gain leadership experience. There was also a mental health serial that involved scenarios of situations nurses may come across when on operational deployment; this was particularly beneficial to adult nurses in the group who have not had a lot of mental health experience. Due to the tri-service nature of our course this exercise fell to our RAF colleagues to share their knowledge of the Battle of Britain in the evening; this included an interesting presentation and Remembrance Service.
Day 2 of the exercise started with CO’s Battle field PT, this
was enjoyable for the students to work hard alongside the Defence School staff demonstrating the casualty evacuations learnt the previous day. In the afternoon, environmental health staff gave a presentation regarding its importance and integrated the effect it has on our work as nurses, including its implications while we are on deployment. All students really enjoyed this exercise and found it to be beneficial to our training. It was also a good opportunity to demonstrate to Birmingham City University staff invited to attend, the different activities military students are involved in outside of university. We are looking forward to next year’s Royal Navy exercise. Pte Faye Bowen
BSc Student Nurse
Cohort 1013
Department of Healthcare Education Defence School of Healthcare Education