Space Nursing

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

Hello all:

I was curious, anyone here interested in the Universe? Humans have longed for the chance to go to space, build space hotels, live on the moon, mars, and other planets, but also to travel in space. All that stuff fascinates me. And it was really cool when I discovered there's a lot of people out there who like space and nursing.

There's fields that are similar like space medicine, aerospace medicine, flight surgeons & nurses also work for companies like NASA on how to care for the astronauts. But I feel like in the not so distant future, space tourism will be a huge part of our life--with people all over the world buying tickets into low earth orbit. And not to mention the space flights to Mars that will surely be taking place if we are to ever visit the planet.

This is all pretty far-out, I know. But I can't help but wonder how this will impact nursing. To me, it's a new frontier in nursing. Space Nursing. Nursing that caters to the environment of space and how space effects our bodies.

Anyone else curious about it? I hope to be able to be involved with some research opportunities down the road. Just wondering if there are any fellow space enthusiasts out there but are also interested in healthcare.

-MRE

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

So much has changed in the past 120 years, much more than what changed in the 120 years prior, that I don't think your ideas are so far out there. Who knows what holds in store for human advancement in the next 120 years. Whoever is a part of it is certainly a risk-taker, though, because we don't have a deep understanding of the physiological effects of space travel.

Specializes in Med Surg.

This question was asked in 1963. Did you happen to notice the answer?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
This question was asked in 1963. Did you happen to notice the answer?

What was the answer? I'm sincerely curious. :)

Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

We actually have a "decent" understanding of the physiological effects of space travel, just short term mainly. The general bone and muscle atrophy, radiation, motion sickness, fluid redistribution...and so on. We know that some are mainly temporary and can be reversed once back on Earth, except maybe not the heavy doses of radiation. But like I said, I feel like it's the beginning of a new frontier in nursing and healthcare. And with and frontier, you are obviously on the forefront of making discoveries. That's why, as a nurse, I'd love to get involved in research into this field. Not really sure you can technically call it an actual field, per se, but with already existing fields such as space medicine, bioastronautics, and astronautical hygiene, I think it'd be pretty cool to have a Space Nursing field! Advanced Practice nurses who have not only experience of caring for Earthbound patients but also experience in how the universe works. All while applying that knowledge to the effects of space travel on humans.

So maybe "astronurse" or simply, "space nurse".

Specializes in Med Surg.
What was the answer? I'm sincerely curious. :)

I am a huge space buff. Wanted to be an astronaut as a kid.

The answer to the OP's question is that opportunities for nurses in the field had a very minor boom during the Space Race and fizzled out to almost nothing soon after.

Nurses were widely regarded by astronauts as simply the implementers of MD torture programs. Speaking of MDs, NASA flight surgeons have not yet yielded any of their scope of practice to nurses and I'm sure have no plans to do so. There are currently a total of 6 people (out of 7 billion) orbiting the earth right now. While I am sure there is an RN or two supporting that effort, there isn't many more than that.

44 years after landing on the moon, I just don't see any feasible career opportunities for space nursing in the near future.

Now if it is your dream to work for NASA or some private space program as a nurse, go for it. But I suspect the coveted jobs are very much a lottery-winning, who-you-know dream job sort of acquisition.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

Back in the 60's and early 70's we were actively going to the moon and had a HUGE presence in space, so it doesn't surprise me that this question was asked back then.

Specializes in Med Surg.
That's why, as a nurse, I'd love to get involved in research into this field. Not really sure you can technically call it an actual field, per se, but with already existing fields such as space medicine, bioastronautics, and astronautical hygiene, I think it'd be pretty cool to have a Space Nursing field!

I also think it would be really cool and would sign up in a heartbeat if it existed.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

I mean, there are a few associations and organizations that recognize "space nursing" and some closely relate it to flight/aerospace nursing. There's the Space Nursing Society and also the Aerospace Medical Association that has a Space Nursing group, so it's still out there.... While you may be right that there's currently not many opportunities, keep in mind our space program is in a bit of a dry spell right now. So perhaps if things ever heat up with going to Mars, back to the moon, going to other planets, and terraforming other planets, we will definitely need more than just a handful of doctors and nurses that know how to care for people in space, and deal with medical problems. Just a thought for now. But my two interests of space and healthcare are huge and I hope to make a connection with the two down the road.

The only problem with your premise is that Obama killed the space program.

Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
The only problem with your premise is that Obama killed the space program.

Actually I highly disagree with that. He didn't. Bush did. Bush ended the space shuttle program. There's no policy like that that would take effect so quick. That is politics my friend. There is always lag time. So in other words, decisions that Bush's administration made are taking effect while Obama is in office. And Obama's decisions most likely won't generate until the late 2010's and into the 2020's. But that's a whole different story...

I like to keep the flame alive for our space program. Even if there is no space program, it's still an interesting field. And with private, commercial companies stepping up like SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic, there's still hope for the space, even if it is space tourism.

Actually I highly disagree with that. He didn't. Bush did. Bush ended the space shuttle program. There's no policy like that that would take effect so quick. That is politics my friend. There is always lag time. So in other words, decisions that Bush's administration made are taking effect while Obama is in office. And Obama's decisions most likely won't generate until the late 2010's and into the 2020's. But that's a whole different story...

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/science/02nasa.html?_r=0

White House To Propose Funding Cut for NASA | NASA & 2013 Budget | Mars, Space Exploration & James Webb Space Telescope | Space.com

Obama Cuts NASA Funding â€" The Patriot Post

Obama stops all US manned space programs by NASA - Topix

Obama to End NASA Constellation Program | Fox News

Obama: Five-year freeze on NASA budget

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