Page 17 - QARANC Vol 19 No 2 2021

The Gazette QARANC Association 15
A Wounded Year
Reflections on lessons learned from Florence Nightingale in the year of the nurse and midwife.
Through a somewhat bittersweet turn of events, 2020-2021 was dedicated as the year of the Nurse and Midwife, in honour of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. Plans were afoot to celebrate nurses work across the Globe and it was an opportunity for the profession to showcase its contribution to society. Unfortunately, celebrations were put on hold as the World came to grips with a Global Pandemic. As celebratory events were sidelined, nurses swapped party hats for personal protective equipment (PPE) and buckled up for a year of uncertainty and worry.
In many respects the pandemic has encouraged us to change our approach to care, leading us to adapt and overcome in the face of adversity. This was something Nightingale herself did when she nursed in the Crimean War. She believed that a patient’s environment could be used to help them recover. In particular, importance was placed on environment, as well as a number of other key elements to rehabilitate patients. These were fresh air, pure water, appropriate nutrition, efficient drainage, cleanliness, and even direct sunlight. If any of these factors were missing, the patient’s recovery would be delayed.
These elements may seem common sense to us nowadays, but in the mid 1800s this was a very radical way of thinking. Despite this, nurses today can often be so blindsided by modern technology to help us in our work, that we take our eye off the basics. This is particularly true when it comes to managing wounds. Wound care continues to be an area that nurses are trusted in and often seen as the go-to agents for advice and knowledge. This is because over the past 100 years, nurses have traditionally been those tending to wounds and this tradition is hard to shrug off.
Frequently, we rely on past experiences to achieve effective wound care, but this too can have its pitfalls. It is often all too easy to approach wounds in the same old way, never deviating from what we have been taught in the past. Many of us dress wounds according to how we were taught years ago, but herein lies the problem. A lack of consistency and differing approaches can have a massive impact on how well a wound heals and this is something we should be very aware of.
For those of us working in civilian roles, in places such as hospitals and GP surgeries, we are lucky to have access to a variety of wonderful dressings for every type of wound imaginable. We can consult wound care guides, reach into fully stocked cupboards or call the pharmacy to get what we need. Within the military setting however, things are very different. In recent times field hospitals and deployed healthcare have become more compact, with a focus on being able to pack up and relocate quickly. This means less storage space and fewer items of stock. It also means our military nurses have to make do with what is available in pre-determined modules, and it is very much a case of using what you have to achieve the best outcome. Nevertheless we should not become complacent about poor wound care, but it should drive us to look back and focus on the fundamentals Nightingale herself laid out over 150 years ago. We work within a modern Army, with huge advances in technology and excellent examples of innovation, however sometimes getting the simple things right can make all the difference to a patients recovery.
Corporal Johnston (R) and fellow competitors
Army Open Water Swimming
Following a long break, the much-anticipated Army Open Water Swimming season for 2021 was under way with the first race meeting at the end of June. The venue was Cromhall Quarry, South Gloucestershire which is used primarily as a scuba diving centre but proved to be an excellent place to hold this season’s opener. The quarry’s high limestone perimeter protected the water from any wind and provided a calm flat-water surface, the sun was shining, and water temperature was a comfortable 18 degrees, ideal conditions for some fast swimming.
Three races were scheduled on race day with distances ranging from 750m to 3k and many swimmers including myself entering all. First off was the 3k and you could feel the buzz of excitement as we waited for the mass
start. Thirty+ swimmers set off with a frantic 200 metres, but everyone settled down after the first turn and I managed to hold 2nd place in the men’s open race throughout the 5-lap course finishing in a time of 38.04.
you could feel the buzz of excitement as we waited for the mass start
Just a little over an hour
later I was back in the water getting ready for the 750m swim which proved to be a tough nine minutes (09:32). This race was a flat-out competition with not much separating the leaders and definitely a change of pace from the previous swim. I found myself in a good position as we headed into the home straight and was more than happy with my 3rd place and second podium finish of the day.
Another hour to go before the final 1500m race. My arms felt heavy and shoulders ached but as we set off, I soon got into a good rhythm and was grateful for the winter training I had put in. In just under 20 minutes later I was glad to hit the finish board for the last time and count in my 3rd podium finish with a second place overall.
Presentations from Lieutenant Colonel Jardine to the first three men and women in each race and 1st place age group winners followed each event, with all swimmers showing appreciation for the effort everyone had put in. A fantastic day was had by all in a well organised event and personally it was great to see swimmers and friends, all of whom add to the amazing atmosphere.
Lance Corporal David Johnston
Corporal McKenna, 204 North Irish Field Hospital