In January 2021, 2LT Megan de St. Aubin reported to BOLC at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas for ten weeks of training. Medical Services BOLC spent the first eight weeks focusing on all aspects of the Med Services branch, such as medical convoys, differences between Role 1 and Role 2, and medical evacuations. The soldiers enjoyed the opportunity to work with those in other professions (dentists, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc.) while sharing their commitment and love of the Army. 2LT de St. Aubin was lucky enough to be in Texas during their major ice storm resulting in a mild snow, where she took the opportunity to teach some of her peers how to enjoy their time in the snow. During the last two weeks, 2LT de St. Aubin had a nurses only track course, where herself and her fellow nurses indulged themselves in the history of the Army Nurse Corps and learned more about what it means to be an Active Duty Nurse.
2LT de St. Aubin moved out to Alexandria, Virginia at the end of March 2021 with the conclusion of BOLC, where she was to begin her service at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. She spent the first three months at Fort Belvoir committed to the Covid Mission, working in the Covid Vaccine Clinic, vaccinating about 900 people on average daily. At the end of June, herself and her cohort were able to transition into the hospital to begin their six month orientation to the hospital through the Clinical Nurse Transition Program (CNTP). During those six months, 2LT de St. Aubin worked both day and night shifts on the Medical/Surgical/Telemetry unit, where she is currently working now. There were three weeks where 2LT de St. Aubin had the opportunity to work a few shifts in the PACU and on the Labor and Delivery unit. Per the CNTP curriculum, the nurses are required to complete an Evidence Based Practice (EP) project. 2LT de St. Aubin's group focused on Pain Reassessment Compliance Rates on their unit. With the conclusion of the CNTP program, her group presented their project to the hospital leadership with recommendations on how to improve the pain reassessment compliance rates on the floors. 2LT de St. Aubin is now working independently on the floor, overseeing the care of multiple patients and working alongside LP's and Navy corpsmen.
2LT de St. Aubin has really enjoyed getting to know her new home. During the summer, she spent her off days exploring the monuments in Washington D.C. and Smithsonian Museums. She has been able to appreciate the vast landscape around her with the Appalachian Mountains
only an hour west and the Atlantic Ocean only two hours east. Virginia, overall, has been very different from Minnesota, but has made a perfect first home for 2LT de St. Aubin.
