What Influenced the Development of the Air Force Nurse Corps from 1969 Through 1983?

The purpose of this work is first, to seek out and record events in the history of military nursing that influenced and shaped the Air Force Nurse Corps from January 1969 through December 1983. A second endeavor of this research is to identify factors that influenced the professional and career development of Air Force nurses. The Annual Reports of the Surgeon General were used to compile a chronology of events from 1969 to 1983. An analysis of the chronology revealed at least three important factors influenced the development of opportunities for Air Force nurses during this time frame: the evolution of nurse practitioner programs that expanded the skills and abilities of nurses, the adoption of the total force concept within the Air Force Medical Service and nursing's role in embracing the Air Reserve Components, and the creation of a nurse internship program to ease the transition of initial active duty nurses into the Air Force. This chronology is another step toward development of a complete and relevant Air Force Nursing history