Aviation nurses work in civilian and military contexts in often demanding and autonomous roles. Linda Belardi speaks to one nurse in the field.

After 12 years as a flight nurse, Genevieve Brideson is about to commence Australia's first PhD in aviation nursing. Her research, to be undertaken at Flinders University where she works as a lecturer, will explore the visibility of nursing in Australia's aviation health services. The former Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) nurse says flight nurses are often seen but not heard in both the academic literature and in popular culture. She says their role is poorly understood and myth and misconception still dominate the public consciousness. "Many people are still unaware that in the vast...