[Brass music]
[Rocket blast]
[Thundering noise as rocket flies]
Today the latest weapons
coupled with the fighting skill
of the American soldier stand ready
on the alert, all over the world, to defend this country
you the American people, against aggression
this is The Big Picture an official television report
to the nation from the United States Army
now to show you part of The Big Picture
here is Sargent Stuart Queen
all of us are well aware of the great and heroic achievements
of our United States Army Nurses
in World War II, and during the Korean War
we heard, read, and many of us saw
how the Army nurse went through great hardship
in performance of her duty
the same dangers endured by the troops
which she had accompanied into combat
but relatively little has been reported
of the Army nurse in peacetime
yet she still serves, not only in the States
but all over the world
today on The Big Picture we would like
to give you some impression of the work
of an Army nurse overseas
and not only her work, but how she spends
her leisure time
and something of what she thinks and feels
as she serves our troops and her country
in the far flung corners of the world
Korea is no longer on the front pages
of the newspapers these days
it is a poor country now
very much like it was before the war
but with the mark of war upon it
American troops are stationed here still
a defense force to ward off possible aggression
we are here too, the Army Nurse Corps
because although the war is over on the battlefield
we nurses must remain with the troops
wherever they are, to be ready in case
of emergency to care for the wounded
and in peacetime, to fight the eternal battle
against disease and sickness
when a new group of nurses arrives at the airport
it's always something of an event
for the newcomers as well as the old timers
for there's not usually much time lost
between arriving and being assigned duties
at the hospital
there's plenty of work to be done here
each new nurse has a job waiting for her
but first, in Korea at any rate,
a new nurse is given a proper outfit
for protection against the cold Korean winter
the key note of the costume is not fashion, but utility
it's not mink, but it's warm
for once it's nice to try on a hat
and not wonder whether it's the right one
does it do something for you? You bet!
keeps you cozy at five below
the new nurses are on the roster now
and the routine of work in the wards has begun
all over the world, wherever our troops are stationed
the Army nurse is an ally of the soldier
in his battle against sickness and pain
her words of sympathy and understanding
can be as important and valuable
as her skill and knowledge
both are required if she is to really fulfill
her role as an Army nurse
the Army assumes full responsibility
for the care of its sick
and in any Army hospital in peacetime
there are the usual number of serious cases
patients who require operative treatment
Army hospitals overseas are on the par with
the best civilian hospitals anywhere
and at each stage of care the most up to date
methods are employed
we nurses stand by during an operation
trying our best to be the doctor's right hand
concentrating on playing our part
on making right moves during
the teamwork of the operation
being a skilled assistant at an operation
anticipating the surgeon's needs
this can be one of the nurse's jobs at an operating room
such work requires special training
but when a patient is coming out of the
ether after an operation
and the first face he sees is that of the nurse
and it is a pleasant, smiling face
this too is important in the care of a patient
and for this there is no training
when the patient is back in the ward
the serious work of returning him to health continues
throughout his treatment he is aided by the
knowledge, skill, and understanding of the Army nurse
we nurses, especially those who have had
considerable experience, are taking part in a program
of assisting Korean nurses in treating their sick
Korea is still faced with many post war problems
not the least of which is the health of its war-ravaged people
more serious Korean casualties of the war
are being cared for in our hospitals
where Koreans are often employed to assist in the wards
we give our own medical corpsmen instruction in ward duties
routines such as taking the patient's blood pressure
teaching seems to be a major responsibility
in the life of an Army nurse, especially overseas
where knowledge of modern methods
of medical care is at a premium
through an interpreter, one of our nurses
instructs a group of Korean nurses
in some of the techniques and procedures
used in our hospitals
the newly arrived nurse takes a few days
to get adjusted to being on her feet all day
so in her off duty hours she is often off her feet
but those who are pretty well accustomed
to the hard physical routine are ready and willing
for active recreation when the day is over
we nurses enjoy physical exercise
and take pride in keeping fit and alert
we must take care of sick people
an so we ourselves try to maintain our resistance
against illness through regular exercise
a lot of being overseas is fun
fun in sightseeing and exploring
each country has its wonders
and since our troops are now scattered
just about everywhere
an Army nurse has a chance to see
a good bit of the world
in Seoul Korea at the Changdeok Palace
one can discover for oneself
an ancient and fascinating culture
it's far more interesting being on the spot
than reading about it in books
in general the type of woman who becomes a nurse
is interested in people
and in Korea the everyday life of the people
is just as fascinating to us
as any building or monument
there are little things to record
snapshots that will be interesting to look back upon
or to enclose in a letter home
one of the strongest reactions one has in Korea
is that the people need help
and it is most satisfying to be assigned
to work in the civilian assistance program
to see hungry orphans being nourished back to health
to be part of this work
to feel that there is no other work you'd prefer to do
this is what it means to be a nurse
being an Army nurse overseas
is for nurses who want to go places and do things
frequently those on assignment to the Far East
have the opportunity of visiting Tokyo
which is an exciting place for shopping and sightseeing
a woman commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps
finds out very soon that she is part
of an organization which regards her as a woman first
then a member of her profession
her life is not regimented
she's expected to grow and develop as a person
to react humanly and enthusiastically
to the world about her
she is given the time to develop interests
to enjoy stimulating activity and companionship
such recreation helps her to return
to her work refreshed and ready
in Japan and wherever she is stationed
many activities are made available
she's encouraged to have a good time in her off hours
as a type, the Army nurse is a well rounded person
understanding, and interested in people
as well as young at heart, fun loving and gay
a great many nurses are assigned to Tokyo Army Hospital
our largest hospital in the Far East
it bustles with medical experts
who are here to carry out the mission of the hopsital
as defined by its commanding officer
Colonel Charles Kirkpatrick
although the shooting war has stopped in Korea
the war against disease and injury is a constant challenge
to doctors, nurses, and enlisted personnel at Tokyo Army Hospital
the health of our armed forces, American,
and other United Nations' fighting men
is of paramount importance
our job at this hospital is to keep these forces in good health
to this end we dedicate all the skill and resources
of modern medicine and surgery
think of the largest hospital you know and you'll begin
to appreciate the size of the Army Hospital in Tokyo
there are hardly enough American nurses to do all the work
and for this reason it is a practice of this hospital
as it is elsewhere in the world
to employ foreign nationals to help us out
the young Japanese women who work with us
are pleasant and gentle and most efficient
they seem to be born nurses
what is a born nurse? can you tell by the way she moves,
by the way she uses her hands
to prepare the sterilized hypodermic needle?
and by the manner in which she administers an injection?
can you see it in the way she dresses a wound,
in the way she places the gauze over the exposed flesh?
the answer is yes
all the little things help to show whether she is right for the job
whether she is, as they say, a natural
but something else should be in her character too
an awareness of a patient's wants and needs
an ability to sense something of what he feels
a desire to help him in his distress
to sense his different moods
to be able to bring good cheer when he is alone
and feeling his loneliness
this can be as valuable as any medicine in the world
a nurse who enjoys her work gains in medical knowledge every day
what's more she becomes a source of knowledge to others
passing on what she has learned from her teachers
doctors and top medical experts
it's a kind of system
this education one receives in a big hospital
and everyone benefits, especially,
and most importantly, the patient
hydrotherapy, a whirlpool bath, to give passive exercise
to the muscles of an injured leg
many of the experts who wear the white uniform of a nurse
are actually members of the Women's Medical Specialist Corps
which is a branch of the Army Medical Service
these women are experts in the fields of
dietetics and physical and occupational therapy
they are in relatively new professions
which the Army has recognized as
an important part of medical practice
since the Army assumes the responsibility of
providing medical care for the serviceman's family
and all additions thereunto
those children are fortunate who are cared for
in the Tokyo hospital
for here the pediatrics service is the finest
and those nurses who are assigned to it
find their task a source of continuous interest and pleasure
there are moments however, when the patient
sees no pleasure in anything
traditionally it has been women's role to tend the sick
but it is her natural and instinctive role
to care for the young
and with young children
the Army nurse is very much at home
in the evening, the Army nurse is at home in a different sense
she can be alone and undisturbed to write a letter
or she can be with others
rarely is she at a loss for something to do in her leisure hours
what she does with her free time will depend to some extent
on where she is stationed
if she is lucky enough to be stationed in Hawaii
she will have absolutely no problem enjoying herself
in this land of sunshine
the Army hospital in Hawaii is as modern as they come
and while building the best for the patients
the Army did not neglect the nurses
whose quarters are attractive and comfortable
there is a bright gleam about Hawaii
even inside the hospital the equipment glistens
in its newness
it's the very best, the very latest
however, the appearance of things is not
of the greatest importance in your work
as an Army nurse
wherever you are stationed you will find one factor
to be of greater consequence than any other
and that is the satisfaction you gain from your work
the deep pleasure of knowing that
you are helping people to get well
if the job means something to you
it will mean not where you are stationed
or how shiny the equipment
but the work of nursing itself
patients grateful, unselfish, uncomplaining
unlike the civilian sick who have family nearby
the soldier has no one to look after him except the Army nurse
to the patient, we are not only nurses to look after their ills
but mother, sister, and friend
during convalescence men lose some of their confidence
they can't do what they used to do
we try to restore their confidence
give them new things to accomplish
we talk and listen and watch
of all the people in the hospital we are closest to the patient
guiding him daily on his road to recovery
no matter what his age
a patient seems to respond to the personality of his nurse
is there any doubt that this nurse has a sunny disposition?
No sir! she's been given the seal of approval
in a large hospital such as this one in Hawaii
one can see an Army principle in operation
and that is training
throughout one's tour of duty
a nurse is constantly exchanging ideas
about the job she is doing, in an effort to do it better
one basic and rather pleasant fact about life
for the Army nurse overseas is that there are
usually a good many young officers
who can be counted on as escorts
in most corners of the globe the Army nurse finds
a delightfully high proportion of men to women
and this statistical background
plus the beautiful tropical background of Hawaii
can make for a very pleasant afternoon
during the Civil War nurses were expected to be plain looking
but youth and looks are far from being taboo today
we have come a long way from and ancient conception
of an Army nurse and today
she is a freer and happier individual because of it
today she knows and enjoys the excitement of travel
her works takes her not only to Hawaii and areas of the Pacific
but to Germany and France and the Middle East
here in the United States Zone of Germany
she is close to the world behind the Iron Curtain
what is duty like in this part of the world?
let us follow one nurse during the first hours
and days in her new assignment in a foreign land
after she is picked up at the station
this young Lieutenant is driven to the
United States Army Hospital at Landstuhl
like any officer in the Army she goes through the
preliminaries of signing in at the new post
and formally meets the officer who will assign
her to her new duties
all of this is formal and military but friendly
the new nurse has been granted an assignment overseas
after having served a preliminary year in the States
she tours the wards
meeting medical experts with whom she may work in the future
in the physical therapy ward she observes
the treatment of injury and disease through exercise
an officer from the Women's Medical Specialist Corps
carefully supervises each program of muscle training
progress is slow but sure
each patient is given specialized treatment
according to his illness or injury
under the direction of an occupational therapist
patients use equipment that will enable
mind an muscle to perform tasks of increasing difficulty
there are some instances of remarkable progress
this etching in plastic indicates
very fine coordination of muscles
as well as artistic expression
the patient has reason to be proud
a highlight of the grand tour is a visit to the pediatrics ward
the new nurse may expect assignment to almost any ward
depending on the immediate need of the hopsital
although she may be assigned here
and become something of a specialist in working with children
she is required to be first and foremost an expert bedside nurse
capable of providing efficient basic care
for all types of patients, old or young
over at the nursery was a newcomer, an incubator baby
doing very nicely, also doing nicely
was an Army father, maintaining a steady vigil
grateful that this one, though tiny, was all there
perfect in every detail
human life and the struggle to maintain health
this is the great drama of a hospital
to be part of this drama is exciting and rewarding
the skill with which simple bedside care is performed
this can be as much a matter for pride
as vast specialized experience
from her first days as a nurse
the Army urges her to learn and practice those bedside skills
which are the true sign of efficient and effective nursing care
certain illnesses require special diets
a dietitian with a background in the science of nutrition
supervises the preparation of hospital food
including its appearance and taste
even after she is assigned
the new nurse may keep herself ready
to observe other phases of hospital activity
operations occur at any time of day or night
in the wide variety of cases which undergo surgery
many are of an emergency nature
the patient is wheeled into the operating room
he is in the hands of a skilled unit
a group of medical experts who bring vast experience
to the delicate work of performing an operation
the surgeon calls for the anesthetic
each person in the operating room
has been trained to work as part of a team
each hand and each move and gesture
has been practiced and coordinated
the teamwork of the operating room is in a sense
the principle by which the entire Army hospital functions
each member of the staff is taught to work with others
to depend upon others, and to be completely dependable
to a nurse, as well as to others,
there is a feeling of unity in being part of the team
a sense of belonging
soon after she has become acquainted
with her hospital and its work
the new nurse looks forward to seeing the sights
the book of photographs pictures Heidelberg
and the real thing is close at hand just across the river
Heidelberg yesterday and today a center of learning
a typical old world city to explore to one's heart's content
Heidelberg castle
since our new nurse will have thirty days of
free time during the coming year
she can plan to visit other places of equal interest in Germany
as well as in other parts of Europe
if she is up to it there can be many hours more
of browsing in Heidelberg's shops
in Germany an Army nurse may apply
for admission to special courses
such as the one given at the hospital in Neubrucke
in anesthesiology
other special courses are open to nurses
in operating room technique
neuropsychiatric nursing and in hospital and nursing administration
the fifty two week course in anesthesiology
is expensive but free
a comparable civilian course would cost
at least a thousand dollars
all the newest anesthetics and methods are taught
and the student learns to exercise great care
in the use of this equipment
Army nurses whether specialists or not
try to keep pace with the changing medical practices
both in the hospital and in these specialist courses
there is frequent contact with top flight medical personnel
this then is the Army nurse overseas
in all our work we are guided by words we spoke
when we became part of the Army Nurse Corps
we are happy to have presented this impression
of the Army nurse overseas
we feel that you will join us in a tribute
to her for the fine work she is continuing to do
in the service of her country
this is Sargent Stuart Queen
inviting you to be with us again next week
for another look at your United States Army
in action on The Big Picture
The Big Picture is a weekly television report to the nation
on the activities of the Army at home and overseas
in cooperation with this station
you too can be a part of The Big Picture
you can proudly serve with the best equipped
the best trained, the best fighting team
in the world today
the United States Army