AF nurses provide key support in OEF and OIF, Maj. Gen. Brannon tells Senate panel

By G.W. Pomeroy
Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- Air Force nurses have provided tremendous support in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, treating more than 200,000 patients throughout Southwest Asia, Maj. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon told the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense April 28.

General Brannon, the Air Force’s assistant surgeon general for both nursing services and medical force development, said that 725 active duty, Reserve and Guard nurses have deployed with 24 expeditionary medical support units in OEF and OIF.  Six nurses have served as EMEDS commanders within the past year, she said.

She also described the role of flight nurses and aeromedical evacuation technicians, who have "seamlessly integrated" with medical service corps officers, front-end aircrews and ground medical units in areas of operations. 

"Since last spring we have flown over 3,200 missions and supported more than 40,000 patient transports without a single in-flight combat-related death," she said.

"Aeromedical evacuation is a vital link in combat casualty care and a key Air Force capability," Brannon said.  "Our ability to provide critical care in the air with specialized transport teams bridges the gap between point of trauma and definitive medical treatment."

The general also addressed nurse recruiting and retention, saying that even though fiscal year 2003 was Air Force nursing's best recruiting year since 1998, challenges remain in recruiting.   Those challenges are related to the continuing serious shortage of nurses across the United States. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2003 that nursing has the largest projected job growth anticipated through 2012.  And even though nursing bachelor degree program enrollments increased across the country last year, 11,000 qualified students were turned away due to limitations in faculty, clinical sites and classrooms.

General Brannon indicated that despite not meeting the Air Force’s nurse recruiting goal for five straight years, at the end of FY 03 the service was only 118 nurses under its authorized end strength of 3,862.  This was a 16 percent improvement over the previous year.  Additionally, the general pointed out that "retention remains strong at 93 percent."

She said the recruiting turnaround was helped, in part, by congressionally approved initiatives such as educational loan repayments of up to $28,000 or accession bonus of $10,000.  Expanding education, training and research programs provide an array of opportunities that will encourage nurses to stay in the service, ease recruiting requirements “and keep Air Force nursing strong,” she said.