AMEDD FTX Part One

Let's discuss the weather here in TX. It is freezing as soon as the sun goes down and then amazingly nice in the middle of the day. We wake up each morning long before the sun comes up for breakfast and to get ready for whatever activity we have scheduled for the day. Under our ACU's we wear "sniffle gear". Most of us rely on polypro style sweaters and neck gators while some go all out and wear long underwear or their PT pants underneath our uniforms. Once we thaw out around lunch time we slowly remove the extra layers of clothing but do not put it away as we know that as soon as the sun goes down we will need them again. It is so nuts. I am not used to this extreme change in temperature everyday.

Along with the sudden changes in temperature, there is always the possibility of getting sick. One of the guys in my squad just returned form being placed on quarters due to strept throat. So guess what that means? I, along with a few others from my squad, are now sick as all heck. I went to the clinic on Friday and was placed on an antibiotic and a decongestant. So, this weekend I have slept, slept, and slept. My nose is running like crazy but at least on the weekends I am on post with my own shower and warm bed to snuggle in.

This week at "camp" we have been participating in the AMEDD FTX. We have been running through exercises learning about Level I and Level II medical treatment "facilities" and capabilites. It has been fun so far. Thursday I was assigned to an Ambulance Exchange Point (AXP). Nurses are not used at this level but it was fun to run through the drills anyway. Friday I was one of the two nurses (a huge stretch for me I know) assigned to the Level II facility. We did not actually treat the patients that came in as they were not really injured but we dicussed what we would have done if the injuries were real. I worked with LT Taylor who is a PA. He was impressed with what I knew and was also a huge help with his teaching as he explained aspects of what would have done that I did not understand. Nursing school does not really treach you a lot about true trauma medicine so I had fun working with LT Taylor using our logic and common sense to "treat" what we saw.

Monday when we return to "camp" to finish one last day of Level I and II training. We return to Ft Sam Houston Tuesday night. Wednesday we have our Class A uniform inspection. My jacket is not finished yet so I will have to get mine inpsected later, but when I get it I will be sure to put up a picture so you can all see what I look like as a "responsible, professional" nurse and officer. I will try to get some pictures up later this week so you can see what we have been doing at this FTX.