Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

www.mnc-i.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20090825-01

August 25, 2009

Iraqi nursing students receive training from U.S. Army

Multi-National Division – North

FORWARD OPERATING BASE WARRIOR, KIRKUK, Iraq – U.S. Army medical Soldiers have been partnering with Iraqi medical staff at the local Azadi Hospital in Kirkuk province, Iraq, to share their knowledge and provide training.

First Lt. Teresa Weber, a physician assistant with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, with assistance from several 2nd BCT medics, taught a class on trauma assessment for nursing students at the Azadi Hospital, August 18.

"This is a vital skill for nurses to know, because if a mass casualty situation happens, there are always going to be more nurses than there are doctors,” said Weber. “Nurses are going to be expected to step up and do what a doctor normally would if there aren’t any around.”

Although the nursing students who attended the training are preparing to graduate at the beginning of September, they were enthusiastic about the opportunity to learn from Weber.

“This is the first time we have received such a class from the [U.S.] Army,” said Farhad Ali, a nursing student at Azadi Hospital. “I would like to get them all the time.”

“Although this class was basic, I expect that I will need to know these skills in the future, because I will be working in an emergency room,” he continued.

Throughout the course, Weber used a trauma dummy to illustrate to the nursing students how to evaluate patients brought the hospital, and how to perform the basic life-saving functions involved in opening airways, controlling bleeding and keeping blood flowing in a patient.

Following the demonstrations, Weber gave the students an opportunity to ask questions, and some even gave a few suggestions on how they might handle a trauma situation.

“I was really impressed by how much they knew,” Weber said.

“Heck, if you want to teach us a class, let us know,” she joked with the students.

After finishing the class, several students expressed their desire to learn more from Weber prior to graduating from their nursing course.

“I would really like to see her come out again,” said Farhad.

Based on input from the students, Weber said she plans to teach additional classes on treating fractures, which she is hoping to do before this class graduates.

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