Careers

Career Description

Air Force Airmen are stationed around the world, and they, along with their families, need the same medical care as civilians. As an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, you'll provide that care just as you do now but with some significant difference. For starters, you'll be an officer in the U.S. Air Force, which means you'll immediately command respect from doctors, colleagues and patients. Additionally, any seniority you accrue will go with you wherever you go — no starting over. You'll also be a leader, work with the latest equipment and have the opportunity to further your training and education.

Career Tasks

• Provide care to patients who are experiencing acute, critical and complex episodic illnesses or injuries
• Scope of practice encompasses trauma, critical care and emergency service, as well as hospital-based specialty practices such as orthopedics, cardiology, neurology, oncology and infectious disease
• Conduct comprehensive history and physical exam, diagnostic reasoning, order and interpret the full range of diagnostic tests, performance of invasive procedures and prescriptive authority
• Collaborate with the patient, family members and other members of the healthcare team to reach the best possible outcome

Becoming a Direct Commission Officer

To ease your transition into the Air Force, you'll enter a five-week training regimen designed to educate you on the ways of both the military and military healthcare. You'll participate in physical conditioning five days a week, leadership training and classroom studies.