On Thursday, April 18, Belmont University School of Nursing will host the U.S. Army 2nd Medical Recruiting Battalion to display a mobile operating room used by Forward Surgical Teams (FST) in combat, complete within a Deployable Rapid Assembly Shelter (DRASH).   The day-long event will feature tours, continuing education opportunities and the chance to talk with Army nurses about their field experiences.  Featured speakers include Brigadier General Margaret Wilmoth, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Belmont alumnus and Army Captain Melanie Bowman.

The DRASH will be set-up in the lobby of the Gordon E. Inman Center and tours will be provided at various times between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  In addition, a one-hour continuing education class on Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Staging will be offered at 8:00, 10:00, 12:30 and 2:00 for those who wish to gain continuing education credit through Womack Army Medical Center.  Individuals must pre-register for the class by emailing lisa.c.simunaci.civ@mail.mil or calling 256-450-9624.

Forward Surgical Teams (FST) were designed to provide surgical capability far forward on the battlefield to stabilize and resuscitate soldiers with life and limb threatening injuries.  A team typically includes about 20 staff members: 4 surgeons, 3 RNs, 2 certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), 1 administrative officer, 1 detachment sergeant, 3 licensed practical nurses (LPN)’s, 3 surgical techs and 3 medics.  The FST can sustain surgery for 24 total operating table hours and has the ability to separate into two teams that function independently. A functional operating room can be established within one hour of being on scene and break down to move to a new location within two hours of ceasing operations.  FSTs were deployed in both Afghanistan and Iraq.