Do You Have the Right Stuff to be a Space Nurse?
Ensure the survival of the human race. That is the current agenda of many international and private aerospace agencies across the globe. These organizations are working around the clock to bring together all the necessary experts, supplies, and technology to support this one mission. All hands are on deck, scouting deep space for proof of life or planets with suitable environments that could support our species. A look into the future of nursing is a thrilling adventure when faced with the possibility of caring for non-earthbound patients and their unique needs.
The art and science of earthly nursing will forever be our foundation; however, it is necessary to start planning how the practice of nursing will evolve and adapt to the needs of space-faring patients. The questions remain, will the future generations of nursing professionals consider specializing as a space nurse and what will the training entail?
Currently, the widely held position of space nurses involves emergent and critical care transport for military members, who required air evacuation. The other sector of space nursing includes the care of astronauts. These nurses are responsible for performing pre- and post-launch assessments as well as provide instructions for how to handle emergent medical situations while in flight. With aerospace technology booming, we will start to see commercial space flights shuttling civilians to and from low earth orbit. With that type of service on the horizon, space nurse positions will become more abundant than ever and will facilitate medical clearance assessment of these celestial passengers as they travel outside the protection of our atmosphere.
Aerospace nurse training programs are available to qualified civilians and military members who hold an active state license as a registered nurse. The United States Air Force requires the completion of an accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and completion of their flight nursing program. It is also required to complete the Flight Physical and Commissioned Officers Training, as well as, maintain certifications in adult and child advanced life support, trauma, and disaster management. Board certification as a flight nurse is preferred.
Due to the inherent risks of activities of daily living in zero gravity, future generations of nursing professionals must gain a significant amount of clinical experience and expertise in different domains. These fields of practice include psychiatric nursing, hematology-oncology nursing, peri-operative and surgical nursing, obstetrics nursing, emergency nursing, and occupational health nursing. A nurse who is skilled in a variety of clinical areas will be appreciated in any future space mission beyond Earth. Nurses who seek advanced degrees and doctorate programs with valuable aerospace research could also contribute to the body of knowledge and foundational theory of extraterrestrial nursing.
Over the next 5-10 years, we will witness historic space missions launched from across the world as we try to uncover how to sustain future interstellar generations. These missions will be used to colonize stations circling the earth in low orbit, bases on the moon, as well as potential settlements on our neighboring planets. Discoveries in the fields of nursing and medicine research will be constant and require a full partnership of disciplines. This is an exciting and innovative era for all of the star-gazing nurses out there.
