As we started up the new academic year, the NROTC San Diego Nurse club began back on the journey to better developing ourselves as Naval Officers that function in the distinct and unique area of nursing.

We began the year with our first event in which we attended the Fisher Houses at Naval Medical Center at Balboa. There we were greeted by the manager of the Fisher House, Thomas Reese, who gave us a tour of both of the Fisher Houses at Balboa. The Fisher Houses function as housing for families that have loved ones in the hospital and are unable to afford the expenses of a hotel in San Diego. This was significant for us as future nurses to know about because we are expected to resource our patients with this information. Mr. Reese explained to us that nurses make the referrals for the families that get to stay in the Fisher House. There are Fisher Houses located at many of the military medical facilities in the country and one is now currently in the planning stage for Camp Pendleton. This is exciting for those of us that are hoping to be stationed at Camp Pendleton.

The nurse club had a unique opportunity at the end of November to attend the Navy Nurse Corps Symposium at Marquette University in Wisconsin. There we discussed the detailing process and the career path for nurses. Our input was also used to help bridge the gap between nurse options in NROTC and the normal Navy options. This was an incredible opportunity to meet our fellow NROTC nurses from other universities and to meet the nursing detailer.

This semester has been a busy one for the nurses here in NROTC but we are excited about what we have learned and cannot wait to bring it to the fleet in the very near future.

- MIDN 1/C Cynthia Nicholson

Nurse Club President