Nurse-performed ultrasonography in combat operations: a perspective for the future?

Abstract Background In current French military operations, it is not uncommon for the military nurses (MNs) to be required to support soldiers alone in isolated areas. At a time when advanced practice nurses in the civilian sector develop extended skills, we asked MNs about their willingness to be trained in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).Methods We conducted a web-based survey from 1 November 2018 to 1 December 2018, including all MNs deployed in the Barkhane operation. The questionnaire, sent by e-mail, aimed to describe the willingness of MNs to be trained in POCUS. Their opinion on the usefulness of this training, the situations and ultrasound targets that seemed most profitable to them were also studied.Results 30 questionnaires out of 34 were completed. On average, MNs had 7.4 years of practice and had already carried out three military operations. Three MNs reported having been trained in POCUS and six had already performed POCUS on the field. 96% of the untrained MNs wanted to be trained. Twenty-nine (96%) MNs felt that there was added value in knowing how to perform POCUS, especially in operations and in isolated posts without a military physician (MP). Focused assessment with sonography for trauma, pleural and urinary tract ultrasound were the targets considered most useful to them, in that order.Conclusion MNs are interested in learning POCUS. A training course before their departure on mission for simple and quick acquisition targets would be easy to implement and probably beneficial for the patient, the MN and the MP.