Understanding deployment from the perspective of those who have served.

BACKGROUND: The term deployment is used by the military to describe sending troops to carry out a combat, peacekeeping, or humanitarian mission. PURPOSE: The purpose of this analysis was to illustrate the variations around combat deployment experiences. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive methodology was used to examine data from 17 members of the U.S. military who deployed at least once to a combat zone after the September 11, 2001 attacks. FINDINGS: No two deployments were the same between individuals or within individuals if they deployed more than once. Variations were discovered in deployment experiences related to deployment demands, deployment resources, and coming back changed as individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding deployment as a singular concept does not take into account the variations in the deployment experience. Individuals caring for those who have served in war would benefit from understanding that each deployment is unique and a life-altering experience.

A program evaluation of the Patient CaringTouch System: A pre- and postimplementation assessment.

BACKGROUND: The Patient CaringTouch System (PCTS) is an innovative, strategic and patient-centric framework developed by the Army Nurse Corps for nursing care delivery that is designed to reduce nursing care variation and improve patient and nurse outcomes. PURPOSE: This manuscript describes a program evaluation of the PCTS. METHODS: A pre and post design was used to describe changes in patient and nursing measures following PCTS implementation. DISCUSSION: Overall there was a good uptake of the PCTS; however, concurrent with initiation of the PCTS, declines in staffing levels and increases in patient acuity were noted. Medication administration error rates declined, but fall with injury rates increased. Pain reassessment following pain medication administration improved, as did several aspects of the nursing practice environment. Nurses' job dissatisfaction and intent to leave increased; however, potentially preventable losses decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The program evaluation results will be used to target areas for improvement so that the PCTS may be sustained.