Abstract
Background: The Air Force has unique challenges in ensuring clinical proficiency for en route care clinicians. These challenges pertain to existing care environments, training opportunities, and the spectrum of training needed to care for patients with polytrauma and complicated medical conditions while being transported between medical treatment facilities.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical education needs of students entering the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Flight Nurse (FN) or Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (AET) course and Air Force FNs and AETs assigned to active duty aeromedical evacuation units.
Method: We recruited 198 students enrolled in the FN or AET course and 103 active duty FN and AET aircrew members and conducted a gap analysis to identify the clinical education needs of Air Force FNs and AETs.
Results: Training gaps were identified for active duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard FNs and AETs. The greatest learning needs included use of the portable therapeutic liquid oxygen unit, manual resuscitators, and negative pressure wound therapy systems, and care of special populations such as patients with a burn injury or mental health disorder.
Conclusions: Results of the gap analysis can be used to select and develop educational and simulation training scenarios designed to foster clinical competence.