S. Ward Casscells, assistant defense secretary for health affairs, said the Military Health System currently needs about 7,000 combat nurses.
Dr. S. Ward Casscells, assistant defense secretary for Health Affairs, recently delivered a keynote address at the University of Texas School of Nursing in Houston. In his speech, Casscells said there are many opportunities and a continued need for nurses in the military.
Casscells discussed the history and heroic work of military nurses from Florence Nightingale to Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, who currently serves as chief of the Army nurse corps, explaining that ěthe history of the nursing profession is integrally tied to the role of nurses in the military. For more than three centuries, nurses have been vital components of the military health care team.î
Casscells said the Military Health Systemís focus on recruiting female leaders, adding the military needs nurses now ěmore than ever,î and he described many unique areas in which the health system operates, including humanitarian, combat care and disaster response.
Casscells referred to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as ěAmericaís medical school,î and told the audience that over the next few years, it will become the best in the country for training in infectious disease, psychological health and global health, among other disciplines.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciencesí graduate school of nursing was created in 1992 to meet the needs of advanced practice nurses in the services. Both the University and the Military Health System share a commitment to making innovations in education, research and technology in order to provide world class health care.
In an interview with a local television station, Casscells discussed the Military Health Systemsí current need for about 7,000 more combat nurses. He detailed the financial incentives, including scholarships and bonuses that are available through the Defense Department to nurses who join the services.
Dr. Denton Cooley, president of the Texas Heart Institute, was honored at the luncheon for his renowned work in cardiology and strong ties to the Texas Medical Center and the University of Texas.
ěThere are so many good opportunities in the military,î he said.
ěSometimes they can even exceed what can be offered in civilian life.î
University of Texas School of Nursing in Houston and Medical Branch at Galveston are only two institutions that have made changes to their academic programs as a way to address the national problem of the nursing shortage.
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