Nurse Spotlight: Maj. Matthew Hill, 779th Medical Group certified emergency nurse Published May 10, 2017 By Kathleen Tyler, 779th Medical Group JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- During National Nurses Week, our next Nurse Spotlight is Maj. Matthew Hill, a certified emergency nurse, who has worked in the Emergent Care Center at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center on Joint Base Andrews, Md., for the past three years. As a nurse in the Emergent Care Center, Hill works with a team of nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and physicians to treat a wide variety and complexity of patients in all age groups. Medical concerns could be as simple as a bug bite, or as life threatening as a stroke or heart attack. The pace of care is constantly changing. Hill must assess, prioritize care, treat, stabilize and then transfer or discharge the patient. “I like the variety of working with new patients and using a broad spectrum of critical thinking and nursing skills,” said Hill. “This enables me to stay current and maintain my skills. The average turnover/burn out rate for an emergency nurse is about seven years, but I intend to stay in the field until retirement and most likely after that.” “I try to treat each patient as if they were my family coming in for care. I keep in mind that what seems like an emergency to one person may be different for someone else, and I take time to explain and educate patients on the difference between urgent and emergent care,” said Hill. “I am always honest and upfront as possible with patients, even if it may be difficult for them to hear.” Hill has served in the Air Force for 18 years. Originally from West Virginia, he enlisted in the Air Force as a way to serve his country and pay for school expenses. Initially he served as a Meteorological Technician for the first eight years of his career, working on the side toward his nursing degree. In 2003 he left the military as a licensed practical nurse and accepted a full time position in the emergency department at Charleston Area Medical Center. He continued his education at West Virginia University, first getting his Associates Degree in Nursing and then his Bachelors. After working for four years in the civilian sector he began to miss the work ethic and accountability he was used to in the military. He applied for a commission and was accepted into the USAF Nurse Corps as an emergency nurse. Since returning to service in 2007, Hill has deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan twice. Once serving as an intensive care unit nurse and the second time in the emergency department. “It was an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience to care for our troops and help them get home to their families, or in some cases make it to Germany so their families could say goodbye one last time” said Hill. What inspires Hill the most is being able to make a difference in a person’s life, such as giving lifesaving medications to patients who would not be here today if not for the healthcare team. He provides the highest quality and trusted care with skill, kindness and compassion.