| Show Male Nurse Tells About Navy Experiences E. E A.- A. 14 J 7 by Bun Bonnie Bunnie nie Vail Vail The helicopter exploded in the air from a mortar shell as I dangled and then dropped the remaining 25 feet to the rice paddy below I was the only one left alive said Jerry Vigil Weber nursing student Vigil was describing how he became a casualty himself in line of duty as a US U.S. Navy corpman in Viet Nam Vigil continued his story I regained consciousness and found myself stuck knee deep in the mud of the rice paddy I was leaning back my arm at an odd angle Iwas I L was shouting instructions to the observer-gunner observer of the companion escort helicopter to help the wounded marine we had come to pick up The observer was trying to tell me to let him help elp me I told him how to set my shoulder and arid he strapped my arm to my chest I have work to do Vigil said to the observer C Continuing to tell the observer how to handle the wounded Marine Vigil had himself strapped into a Stokes Stretcher This stretcher has an indented body shape and he went up tandem with the wounded Marine holding his IV bottle C Vigil went on I didn't feel any pain until I was in the helicopter I had two breaks and a compound fracture in my arm two brea breaks s in my lower leg a fractured pelvis and a concussion Vigil at 16 was a nurses nurse's aide at the Rehab Hospital in Roy Utah He had many older patients who appreciated his he help p and care so that he felt good about working with them There was a special feeling every time I walked out of the hospital said Vigil He later worked in the San Francisco General Hospital The former Navy corpman received his training at Balboa Naval Hospital where he learned EKG and OR and other specialized techniques that qualified him to be a medical man who takes the place of a doctor in the field As head corpman on a ship it was his responsibility also to determine if all food was in edible condition Vigil has had to delay a ship for new meat to be brought on board as a replacement for spoiled meat Vigil is presently wor working ing as an I have to be realistic about it I get some of the themore e more difficult patie patients ts because I am capable of handling them I know it helps out the nurses so I dont don't mind Vigil saidI saidI saidI said I gave a lo lot o of thought of being a doctor b but t I want to have a family life I want to have time timeto to be beta ea a nurturing g parent I dont don't want th the st stress stes es of my j job b to over lap lapon lapon on my family Being a nurse I can leave my responsibility with another nurse when I go off my shift Vigil said |
