Off the Record

Off the Record Book Description

Nearly all Fay Ferrington's reflections in OFF THE RECORD were made within a day, or even minutes, of the event and thus provide a sequential account of how her year-long tour in Vietnam unfolded. Nearly all the books by other nurses about Vietnam were written after the authors completed their tour of duty and left the country. The content of this journal addresses the types of injuries encountered, the pattern and frequency of casualties that occurred, and patient and care-provider responses to such events. It also includes accounts of interactions with both groups, often revealing how combat conditions, environmental factors, cultural differences, and social isolation impacted the morale and efficiency of individual performance. Such data permits the informed reader to identify factors contributing to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) where applicable and can serve as a source for conducting historical research about the war.