b. Some practical nurses in grades E8 and E9 are utilized as chief clinical NCOs
while those in grades E7 and E8 may serve as assistant chief clinical NCO. These
assignments involve supervising the entire staff of enlisted personnel within the medical
facility's Department of Nursing. As the senior nursing NCO, the practical nurse has the
responsibility for the operation of all areas of the hospital involved with providing some
form of nursing care. Needless to say, much of this responsibility is shared by the
clinical NCOs and NCOs within the department.
c. A great amount of authority is delegated to subordinate supervisors. It is up
to each practical nurse supervisor to ensure that his subordinate supervisors and
subordinate workers are performing to standards. You can see that each management
experience assists in preparing the individual to manage larger and more complex
areas and larger numbers of personnel. An E5 in charge of a small clinic with one or
two personnel could eventually find himself as an E8 in the position of Chief Clinical
NCO at a MEDCEN.
1-15. THE M6 PRACTICAL NURSE IN THE FIELD
Yes, M6 practical nurses are found in "field" units. You may be the "medic" that
will accompany a platoon to combat or the "aidman" on a MEDEVAC helicopter.
a. M6 practical nurses are utilized in the field type hospitals just as in any other
hospital. M6 practical nurses are needed to staff the wards and serve as clinical NCOs
and section NCOs. There are positions for a chief clinical NCO and an assistant chief
clinical NCO. As in a regular hospital, these positions are filled by practical nurses. Any
field unit that has patient holding capabilities may utilize practical nurses.
b. When a field medical element is not operational, it will be engaged in various
levels of training for mobilization. Mobilization training means readiness training. The
unit as a collective group, the elements within the group, and the individuals within each
element must all be thoroughly prepared for mobilization on short notice. Training to
achieve this readiness involves all aspects of operations in any given unit. Individuals
must be proficient in their MOS/ASI and common soldier tasks. Each work center, no
matter what its function, must be able to perform as a cohesive element. All the
individual work centers must be able to work with the other elements of the unit in order
to accomplish the mission. If any element or any individual is unprepared, the integrity
of the entire unit is compromised. Training, then, is accomplished on varying levels,
from individual training to unit training. A very large part of being assigned to a field unit
is being involved in the process of training for mobilization.
1-16. SPECIAL OPTIONS FOR THE M6 PRACTICAL NURSE
a. Upon completion of an approved faculty development or instructor training
course of instruction, the M6 practical nurse will be awarded the special qualification
identifier (SQI) of "H," which designates instructor qualification. Practical nurses are
authorized to be utilized as instructors in a number of settings. As a service school
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