Hot Springs RN Prepping For Stay in Kuwait

CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs Registered Nurse Kay Lynn Brunt is preparing to spend nine months in Kuwait as part of the Army National Guard.

Brunt, a charge nurse in the nursery, has worked in Hot Springs the past six years. She has been with the Army National Guard for nine years where she is a Staff Seargeant (SSG).

“I’m not an RN in the military. I’m a health care specialist, commonly referred to as a medic. After basic training I had to go through an NREMT program and a combat medicine program which has an emphasis on battlefield trauma. Medics are generally the first line medical treatment for injured soldiers. On the civilian side our scope of practice is limited, we hold an EMT certification and can operate in that capacity but on the military side we are expected to be able to do anything from check a temperature to perform a surgical cricothyrotomy,” Brunt said.

In Kuwait, the medical section of her company will be running a Troop Medical Clinic (TMC), which is a doctors’ clinic for the soldiers.

“The hardest part will be being away from my husband, Chad, and our two kids, Jaxon, 6, and Addison, 3,” Brunt said. “We are lucky to have a lot of close family and friends to help out while I’m gone which will make it a little easier.”

They begin pre-mobilization training in April and will depart for Kuwait later this summer.

Best of luck Kay Lynn and thanks for your service!