Healthcare Beyond Earth: A Literature Analysis on “Aerospace Nursing”

ABSTRACT

“Aerospace Nursing” is an emerging interdisciplinary field focused on addressing healthcare challenges in air and space travel, extreme remote environments, and analog missions. This analysis of 45 studies from 1975 to 2024 covers four research objectives: (1) identifying clinical and operational challenges, (2) evaluating required skills and training, (3) assessing nurses’ roles in crew well-being and safety, and (4) informing educational frameworks. A conceptual framework based on the nursing metaparadigm (“Person,” “Environment,” “Health,” and “Nursing”) with moderators (“Education,” “Training,” and “Research”) guide the analysis. Findings demonstrate physiological, psychological, and ethical issues, establish the need for trauma care and telehealth competencies, and recognize nurses’ critical contribution to mission safety. Gaps related to standardized curricula and the feasibility of adapting Earth-based nursing to space settings are identified. The analysis provides implications for practice, education, and policy, supporting the development of “Aerospace Nursing” programs.