The Lived Experience of Korean Female Military Nursing Officers During the Vietnam War

Abstract

Introduction: Between 1964 and 1973, more than 550 Korean female nursing officers were deployed to the Vietnam War as part of the Korean military. Their achievements were overshadowed by the male combat troops. The purpose of this study was to explore the essence of their lived experiences. Method: Using the hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the data were collected through in-depth interviews with 14 Korean female nursing officers who were deployed to the Vietnam War. Results: Seven essential themes were derived: Enduring confusion, Being devoted to duty, Establishing deep comradeship, Realizing the dark side of war, Being discriminated against as female, Achieving and being rewarded, and Growing as leaders. Conclusion: This study acquired valuable data on nursing history and useful information on the psychological, physical, and environmental difficulties that could be faced by female nurses working in conflicts, wars, and disaster situations.