BY ORDER OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE POLICY DIRECTIVE 46-1
20 MARCH 2018
Nursing
NURSING SERVICES
COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY
ACCESSIBILITY: This publication is available on the Air Force e-Publishing website at
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil.
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.
OPR: AF/SG1N
Supersedes: AFPD 46-1, 01 Sep 2011
Certified by: AF/SG
(Lt Gen Mark A. Ediger)
Pages: 3
OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND
This Directive implements the following statutes for the Nursing Service and its activities in
medical care worldwide: Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1071-110b when applied to
Nursing Services. This Directive establishes Air Force nursing services policy to ensure the
highest standards of nursing care, nursing practice and professional performance are applied to
all aspects of nursing care provided to eligible beneficiaries. This Directive applies to all nursing
services personnel who deliver and/or monitor health care services in active duty medical
treatment facilities, Air Force Reserve Medical Units, Air National Guard Medical Groups,
Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons, communities, and deployed locations. Nursing services
personnel are referred to as Total Nurse Force which includes Nurse Corps officer, enlisted,
civilian & contractor. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the
Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of
Publication; route AF Forms 847 from the field through appropriate functional chain of
command. Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication
are maintained IAW Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 33-363, Management of Records, and
disposed of IAW the Air Force Records Disposition Schedule (RDS) in the Air Force Records
Information Management System (AFRIMS). Requests for policy clarification or waivers to this
directive should be sent to usaf.pentagon.af-sg.mbx.af-sg-workflow@mail.mil.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
This document is substantially revised and must be completely reviewed.
