Background: Although the conflict in Vietnam (usually referred to as the Vietnam War) ended almost 50 years ago, few research-based publications of nurses' experiences in Vietnam exist.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to expand what is known about the experiences of US military nurses who served in Vietnam.
Methods: This secondary analysis used qualitative description to examine interview data from 15 nurses who served in-country (within Vietnam) and in-theater supporting Vietnam (e.g., Guam, the Philippines) between 1965 and 1972.
Findings: We found that nurses' experiences varied based on time deployed and place deployed (land, sea, or air; in-country or in-theater). The influence of time and place on US military nurses' experiences in Vietnam are illustrated through findings pertaining to danger, daily life, and work. The most prominent differences were between nurses assigned in-country and those assigned in-theater.
Discussion: The findings illustrate ways research of more recent and future conflicts might be strengthened.
Keywords: Vietnam nursing; miitary nursing; nursing deployment; qualitative research.
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