Careers

Career Description

The men and women of the Air Force aren't just Airmen. They're family members with husbands, wives and children. As an Air Force Pediatric Nurse, you'll help care for the youngest members of the Air Force family both stateside and abroad. You'll work alongside an experienced, professional staff as an officer giving you the respect, privileges and responsibilities associated with your rank. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to continue your training, including working toward becoming a nurse practitioner in your field or another.

Career Tasks

• Teach prenatal classes and provide newborn care in the nursery
• Conduct in-hospital postpartum instruction for patients and their spouses about their new babies
• Conduct well-baby clinics and provide healthcare consultation to preschool and childcare centers
• Provide health screening and counseling to school-age children and adolescents
• Diagnose and manage common acute childhood illnesses in children of all ages
• Opportunities to care for children with special medical problems in conjunction with a pediatrician or other specialist
• Opportunities to care for children with school/learning difficulties or more complex neonatal problems
• Research opportunities to participate in continuing education programs with possible qualification for Air Force–sponsored graduate study

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.