Sailor of the Day
Story and photo by MCSA (SW) Andrew Price
Quartermaster 3rd Class Maygan Tracy, of Valley Center, Kan., was named Sailor of the Day Sept. 11. Tracy corrected and prepared 8,000 charts supporting 50,000 nautical miles of steaming, and encompassing the entire geographic area of Nimitz. “I like my job, so I don’t mind putting in the work,” said Tracy. “I just tried my hardest to get my qualifications and do what I have to do.” Tracy is considered a cornerstone of NavigaCommanding Officer Capt. Jeff Ruth
tion Department and is highly relied upon for the highest level of professionalism, mission accomplishment and unparalleled attention to detail. Additionally, her efforts were integral to the time critical preparation of 40 charts with zero discrepancies in support of emergent maritime presence operations in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. “Find something you excel at,” said Tracy. “Once you find something you like to do, it’s not a job anymore.”
Executive Officer Capt. John Cummings
Editor MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke
Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Karin Burzynski
Lead Designer MCSA (SW) Andrew Price
Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. ”Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.
2
3
LAB WORK HM1 Elizabeth Anderson and HM2 Henry Isaiyas pose in the lab.
What it takes to test, diagnose and cure illness
4
Story and photo by MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.
T
Prior to having specimens extracted, Sailors must have lab chits containing personal information and type of test. “We verify the information on there and make sure all the information is correct and verify what lab test they need,” said Isaiyas. “So, once that is done, we collect the specimen. Let’s say we need blood: we sit them down, put a tourniquet around their arm, clean the area and stick them with the needle,” said Isaiyas. After the sample is drawn, it is verified again for accuracy before getting tested. Unfortunately, not everything is this easy in the medical lab. The idea of needles and getting blood drawn makes some people a bit uneasy. For Isaiyas, drawing blood from Sailors who get nervous around needles is a rather common trend. “Usually, we can tell when people are scared, and we do get people who pass out,” said Isaiyas “The main cause -Isaiyas is that the patient anticipates the pain so they hold their breath and they over think it. [If they pass out] we make sure that they are well ventilated, so we air them out, we have cold water and we have ammonia so we can wake them up.” After drawing samples and conducting tests, the laboratory technicians are able to pinpoint a cause of illness that is otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Health providers use this information in administrating treatment for their patients. “My favorite part of the job is that we do something to actually help cure patients,” said Isaiyas. “There’s just something good about running a test and finding out what’s wrong with a patient. What we do pretty much dictates the treatment that the patient gets.”
here is an invisible micro world of cells within the human body. Day after day, minute after minute, the human body produces millions of new blood cells. Every muscle movement depends on the constant flow of blood traveling throughout the body. In this micro world also exists a constant battle against intruding diseases from the outside world. Luckily, the body’s self-defense system is capable of producing antibodies to fight off most of these diseases. The human anatomy isn’t flawless, though. Some diseases could run through the body unnoticed and cause the person to become ill. “When a patient gets sick we run specimen testing,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Elizabeth Anderson, medical laboratory technicianon board. “It’s a step in diagnosing to help give treatment that a patient needs.” According to Anderson, the lab aboard Nimitz is capable running specimen tests on blood, saliva, urine and stool for examination and timeliness of the patient screening process. A patient doesn’t have to be sick to have tests run on them. There are several occasions where tests are common practices. Some examinations are used to analyze electrolyte and cholesterol levels. “There is a test we do if you get seen through sick call, that’s when we are trying to figure out what is wrong with you,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Henry Isaiyas, medical laboratory technician. “Then there’s regular routine screening like for flight deck physicals and birth month recalls.”
“My favorite part of the job is that we do something to actually help cure patients.”
5
THROUGHTHELEN
ABE1 Lance Simmons signals that the tailhook is clear of the arresting gear wire after a Super Hornet assigned to VFA-147 lands on the flight deck.
CSSN Sydney Jordan cuts lettuce in the galley.
6
By MCSA Kelly M. Agee
By MCSN Siobhana McEwen
ABE2 Dominyk Brown works in a catapult control room.
By MC3 Chris Bartlett
ABE3 Mario Otero turns quickly after signaling to launch an EA-6B Prowler assigned to VAQ-142 on the flight deck.
By MC3 Raul Moreno Jr.
S
30 nel 29 Ch annel 6 Channel 7 Chan Channel 5 Channel 0800 / 2000 Just Wr ight 1000 / 2200
sw eet home ala bam a 1200 / 0000 anchorm an
1400 / 0200 mr s. doubt fir e 1600 / 0400 get him to the greek 1800 / 0600 grown ups
Field of Dr eam s million dolla r baby
bend it lik e beckh am
the open roa d
a league of their own knight and day
Jon ah He x
there’s Som ething about ma ry
predators
this is the end
the last exorcism
safe house
face off
we were soldiers
k2
the day aft er tomorrow
moonrise kingdom
air pla ne
monst ers university
now you see me
ent r apm ent
the blind side
jack the gia nt slayer fast tim es at ridgemon t high
TV
02 - AFN News 03 - AFN Xtra 04 - AFN Sports
05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 07 - 8MM Movies 08 - ROLLER 09 - NTV
10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN 29 - DVD MOVIES 30 - DVD MOVIES
On the Front: Several different covers from previous Nimitz News Daily Digests commemorating your 100th issue.