LCDR Fredora “Toni” McRae, LCDR Fredora “Toni” McRae, NC, USNNC, USN

Nurse Corps Fellow Nurse Corps Fellow Bureau of Medicine and SurgeryBureau of Medicine and Surgery

(202) 762-3356(202) 762-3356

Answering the call to Answering the call to Serve…..!Serve…..!Answering the call to Answering the call to Serve…..!Serve…..!

A little about me……………A little about me……………My road to becoming a Navy Nurse!My road to becoming a Navy Nurse!

•Maximizing prior experience

•Embracing training & job opportunities

• Seeking mentors and emulating great leaders

The Face of Military Medicine The Face of Military Medicine

• Supports Maritime Strategic Imperatives through application of Navy core capability

• HCA Mission Opportunities and Benefits– Improved worldwide response capability– NGO, Inter-Agency and Partner Nation collaboration– Joint Force and Reserve integration– Demonstrable measures of effectiveness– Opportunity to positively impact global perception of US– Expanded training and experience for all participants– Avenue for improved recruiting and retention of healthcare

providers

Civil Service Contract Nursing

The future of Navy Nurse Corps The future of Navy Nurse Corps

• Operational mission requirements GWOT and Humanitarian

TRICARE

• Warrior Care Casualty Care – field, evacuation and tertiary MTFs

Chronic care – Rehabilitation / Psychiatric / Mental Health

• Jointness

Tri-Service (VA) cooperation and collaboration

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center-interoperable and integrated

Civil service, contract, and reserve nurses serve as the backbone of professional nursing in our military treatment facilities

Beneficiary Care

Readiness

Spectrum of Care

Civilian and Navy Nurses

Navy Medicine Global SupportNavy Medicine Global Support

Spain Italy (2)

Guam

March 2009

Deployed Forces Providing the Deployed Forces Providing the Dual Mission of Navy MedicineDual Mission of Navy Medicine

TelemedicineTelemedicineBlood Bank OperationsBlood Bank Operations

Surgical TeamsSurgical TeamsPsychiatric ServicesPsychiatric ServicesPrimary Medical Support PersonnelPrimary Medical Support Personnel

Expeditionary Medical FacilityExpeditionary Medical FacilityEnvironmental HealthEnvironmental HealthMedical ResearchMedical Research

Dental BattalionsDental BattalionsMedical Reserve ForcesMedical Reserve Forces

USS NIMITZ (CVN-68)

USS B RICHARD (LHD-6)

USS BATAAN (LHD-5)

Current as of March 2009

USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8)77 personnel

USS D D EISENHOWER (CV-69)

USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49)

EMF-GTMO65 Personnel

EMF Germany294 personnel:278 RC / 16 AC

EMF Horn of Africa31 Personnel

AC Medical Personnel Deployed= 2,854 PersonnelRC Medical Personnel Deployed= 388 PersonnelTotal Medical (AC/RC) personnel deployed= 3,242 Personnel

USS S D ROBERTS (FFG-58)

USNS COMFORT(TAH-20)358 personnel

EMF Kuwait283 Personnel

MEF FWD687 Personnel

Various IAs578 Personnel

Being a Navy Nurse - First Tour Being a Navy Nurse - First Tour

• Military Treatment Facility (MTF) • Internship / Extensive Clinical Orientation• Staff Nurse• Inpatient ward• Rotating shifts• Collateral Duty• May have opportunity to deploy

Orientation - TransitionOrientation - Transition

• You will feel overwhelmed• Do not act like you know everything• Take advantage of learning opportunities• Learn how to take constructive criticism• Learn to team lead - corpstaff Know their scope - strength/weaknesses Great resource technical skills, but you teach them “why” Look out for them – mentor / lead Fraternization

Words of wisdom for a “new” Words of wisdom for a “new” Navy Nurse….Navy Nurse….

• Focus on Clinical Proficiency and providing Quality Care

• Volunteer wisely for Collateral Duty • Embrace opportunity….. always prepare to take

the next step - show breadth of skills…cross-training, diversify assignments and responsibilities – team leader, shift charge nurse

• Choose a mentor(s)• Take care of yourself and your colleagues

““C”s to SuccessC”s to Success

• Clinical

• Command / Community

• Commissioned Officer

• Communication

• Contribution

• Care

ClinicalClinical• Constantly improve your clinical skills; Ask

questions• Take the toughest patients, challenge yourself• Never stop learning and always be teaching.• Search for your clinical niche / your professional

passion – seek different clinical experiences• Am I the best nurse I can be?

This defines you as a Nurse!

Command / CommunityCommand / Community

• Every nurse is a recruiter• Every nurse is a retention officer – active/reserve• Be positive – attitude is everything!• Value differences in people – learn from them• Develop your subordinates / peers

This defines you as a Community member!

Commissioned OfficerCommissioned Officer

• Wear your uniform correctly and with pride and hold others accountable to the same

• Extend the proper military courtesies• Even out of uniform you represent the Navy• Maintain your physical readiness and fitness• Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity

This defines you as a Military Officer!

CommunicationCommunication• Communication is vertical - up and down the chain of

command• Communication is horizontal - your peers and

comrades• Communicate well and often• Use multiple forms – personal, phone, e-mail• Collaborate and Cooperate, share information• LISTEN

This defines you as a Team Player!

ContributionContribution• Set personal and professional goals• Demonstrate initiative• Always finish the job /task – follow-up and follow

through• Attention to detail• Plan and prioritize• Leave workspace a better place

This defines you as a Professional!

CARECARE• Your patients – patient and family centered care• Your subordinates – mentor and assist• Your peers – comrade and friend• Your boss – communicate and support • Yourself – maintain a balanced life

This defines you as a Leader!

Performance = SuccessPerformance = Success

• Clinical – Professional Expertise – 33.• Command – Command Climate / EO – 34.• Commissioned Officer–Military Bearing– 35.• Communication – Teamwork – 36.• Contribution – Mission Accomplishment and

Initiative – 37.• Care – Leadership – 38.

A Second Assignment…..A Second Assignment…..Should I stay or should I go?Should I stay or should I go?

• Reflect on why you joined the Navy.• Ask ODS comrades about their experiences.• Ask your supervisor / mentor why they stayed?• Seek professional guidance / make appointment • Reflect on your professional / personal goals – how

best to achieve them.• Prepare to call the detailer

Your Second Assignment…..Your Second Assignment…..OpportunitiesOpportunities

• HPLRP – Health Professions Loan Repayment Program

• DUINS – Duty Under Instruction• RN-ISP – Incentive Special Pay

There is a difference There is a difference between between

being a nurse in the Navy being a nurse in the Navy and and

being a Navy Nurse!being a Navy Nurse!

Questions?Questions?