Nursing in the Air Force

Based on information from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, all registered nurses are responsible for functioning in a variety of different roles. Some of the most commonly known roles include treating patients, educating caregivers of patients, and supporting family members. For those who work in a military environment such as the air force they are also responsible for the same types of duties. When an individual pursues this area as a career, they will have to attend commissioned officer training and complete the appropriate air force nursing program, specifically when they want to transition from a civilian life into a military career.

In addition to the same types of roles, these nurses will also have similar job titles as well as job functions. Three of the job titles that many people are familiar with include neonatal nurse, operating room nurse and acute care nurse practitioner.

A neonatal nurse can serve in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a military environment. The role that they play involves taking care of infants that have been born prematurely and infants that have been born with various medical complications. Their job is to provide medical care for those expectant mothers that have high-risk deliveries. If the nurse is going to be successful in this area, they may use different types of sophisticated medical equipment. Some of the equipment that they use can include high-frequency oscillator ventilators. They should make sure they complete an air force nursing program.

In some situations, they may be responsible for accompanying patients during an evacuation mission. Based on the position that they hold, they may also provide supervision for their subordinates as well as provide emotional and educational support to the families in the location that they work in. To work and be successful in these positions, the neonatal nurse is normally required to be certified in the basics of life support and neonatal resuscitation.

In addition to neonatal nursing positions, the military environment also has operating room nurses. These nurses are normally involved in the U.S. Air Force in a variety of different complex lifesaving procedures. These nurses are responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the activities in the operating room, while also providing care to all of the surgery patients. The role of the operating room nurse is to maintain the appropriate levels of medical materials and equipment for each procedure that they perform. They are an essential part of any surgical team, since they are responsible for both pre-op and post-op visits.

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