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Message from AF Nurse Corps Chief: Nurses Leading the Way

  • Published
  • By Maj. Gen. Dorothy A. Hogg
  • Air Force Nurse Corps Chief.
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Dear Nursing Colleagues:

Since 1991, National Nurses Week has been celebrated annually, beginning on May 6 and going to May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern Nursing. Originally known as National Recognition Day for Nurses, it is a time to reflect on the important contributions nursing personnel have made and continue to make daily to provide safe, high-quality healthcare and patient advocacy. This year's theme is: "Nurses Leading the Way..."

Nurses represent the largest single component of the health care profession, with an estimated 3.1 million Registered Nurses in the United States. In the USAF, we have over 18,000 Total Nursing Force (Active, Guard and Reserve) Airmen, comprised of nurses and technicians, military and civilian.

In August 2013, I was given the opportunity to serve as the Air Forces' 16th Nurse Corps Chief. Since that time, I have been working with your nursing leaders to ensure the TNF personnel are, in fact, leading the way.

We have honed our vision and mission to successfully guide us into the future. Our TNF vision is:

We Lead, We Partner, We Care...Every Time, Anywhere.

To achieve this vision we, as a TNF, must focus our efforts to "Advancing Nursing Practice, Developing Nursing Leaders, and Promote Health for All We Serve."

Every day, TNF personnel are driving change, standing ready, providing better care and better health at the best value. As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I challenge each and every one of you to look for opportunities to "Lead the Way" in our AFMS through your practice in the art and science of Nursing.

Through your continued dedication, you reflect the best the military has to offer, and embody the spirit of the Total Nursing Force, past and present. I thank each and every one of you for your unwavering support of the Air Force's healthcare mission.

On behalf of Chief Master Sgt. Michael Steiner, your Career Field Manager, and Col. Rose Layman, your Director of Nursing, thank you for what you contribute each and every day. Take some time to reflect on why you became a nurse or technician, more importantly, why you became a military nurse or technician and celebrate your accomplishments.

Warm Regards,

Maj. Gen. Dorothy A. Hogg, Assistant Surgeon General, Nursing Services
Office of the Surgeon General