AF Form 3890: Aeromedical Evacuation Inpatient Nursing

AF Form 3890: Aeromedical Evacuation Inpatient Nursing – The AF Form 3890, officially titled Aeromedical Evacuation Inpatient Nursing Summary, is a critical U.S. Air Force document used to record and summarize nursing care provided to inpatients during aeromedical evacuation (AE) missions. Flight nurses and aeromedical evacuation crew members (AECMs) rely on this form to ensure seamless continuity of care as patients move between medical treatment facilities (MTFs) via fixed-wing aircraft.

If you are a flight nurse, aeromedical technician, or medical professional supporting AE operations, understanding AF Form 3890 is essential for proper documentation, patient safety, and compliance with Air Force instructions.

What Is AF Form 3890 Used For?

The primary purpose of AF Form 3890 is to summarize the nursing care delivered to a patient during aeromedical evacuation transport. It captures key details about the patient’s medical condition, interventions performed in flight, vital signs trends, any complications or special considerations, and the overall nursing summary for the mission.

This form supports the broader AF Form 3899 series of patient movement records, which document en route care when electronic health record (EHR) systems are unavailable or as a supplement. All completed AE documentation, including AF Form 3890, is scanned into the patient’s permanent medical record.

Key context: The U.S. Air Force Aeromedical Evacuation system, managed under Air Mobility Command (AMC), provides time-sensitive, mission-critical en route medical care. AE crews (typically consisting of flight nurses and aeromedical evacuation technicians) move patients ranging from stable inpatients to those requiring intensive support, sometimes in coordination with Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATT).

Who Uses AF Form 3890?

  • Flight Nurses (46F AFSC) and Aeromedical Evacuation Technicians (AETs) assigned to Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons (AES).
  • Medical personnel providing en route care during AE missions.
  • Personnel at patient staging facilities or en route patient staging systems (ERPSS).
  • Anyone involved in documenting inpatient-level nursing care during aeromedical transport.

The form is particularly important for inpatients who require ongoing nursing assessment and interventions during flight, distinct from outpatient or ambulatory patients.

When Is AF Form 3890 Required?

Use AF Form 3890 during aeromedical evacuation of patients needing inpatient-level nursing care. It helps maintain the continuum of care across the AE system, from originating MTF through staging facilities to the receiving facility.

Related documentation often includes:

  • AF Form 3899 – Patient Movement Record (core form for AE patient movement).
  • Other 3899-series forms for specific needs (e.g., pain management adjuncts).
  • TRAC2ES (USTRANSCOM Regulating and Command & Control Evacuation System) entries for patient movement requirements.

Incomplete or missing documentation can delay patient movement, so accuracy and completeness are mandatory.

Key Sections and Information Captured on AF Form 3890

While the exact block-by-block layout is detailed in the official PDF, the form generally includes:

  • Patient Identification: Name, rank, SSN/DOD ID, mission details, and flight information.
  • Medical Condition Summary: Diagnosis, reason for evacuation, and pre-flight status.
  • Nursing Care Provided: Assessments, interventions, medications administered, vital signs monitoring, and responses to treatment during flight.
  • Complications or Special Considerations: Any in-flight issues (e.g., related to altitude physiology, turbulence, or changes in patient condition), equipment used, and resolutions.
  • Narrative Summary: Overall nursing notes and handoff information for the receiving team.
  • Signatures: Completed by the flight nurse or responsible AECM, with date and time.

The form emphasizes documentation of care tailored to the aeromedical environment, accounting for stressors of flight such as hypoxia, barometric pressure changes, decreased humidity, noise, vibration, and G-forces.

Download the Current AF Form 3890 PDF:

Always verify you are using the latest version from the Air Force e-Publishing website (e-publishing.af.mil), as forms are periodically updated.

Best Practices for Completing AF Form 3890

  1. Be Thorough and Timely — Document assessments and interventions as they occur or immediately after. Legible, factual entries are required.
  2. Coordinate with the AE Team — Ensure consistency with the overall AF Form 3899 series and any CCATT documentation if a specialty team is involved.
  3. Address Flight-Specific Factors — Note any effects of the aeromedical environment on the patient (e.g., oxygen requirements, pain management adjustments, or hemodynamic changes).
  4. Privacy and Security — Handle all patient movement records in accordance with HIPAA, Privacy Act, and DoD/DAFI requirements. Secure transmission and storage are mandatory.
  5. Upload to EHR — Scan and attach the completed form to the patient’s electronic health record upon mission completion.
  6. Training Reference — Flight nurses and AETs receive specific training on en route care documentation through USAFSAM (U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine) courses, which cover altitude physiology and AE standards.
  • DAFI 48-107V1 & V3 — En Route Care and Aeromedical Evacuation Medical Operations (provides detailed policy on AE documentation and the 3899-series forms).
  • DAFI 48-107V2 — En Route Critical Care.
  • Air Mobility Command (AMC) resources and USAFSAM AE training programs.

For the most current instructions, refer to official Department of the Air Force Instructions (DAFIs) available on e-publishing.af.mil.

Why Proper Use of AF Form 3890 Matters?

Accurate completion of the Aeromedical Evacuation Inpatient Nursing Summary contributes directly to:

  • Patient Safety — Ensuring receiving teams have a clear picture of care provided in transit.
  • Mission Effectiveness — Supporting the AE system’s goal of moving patients without degradation of care.
  • Legal and Compliance — Meeting DoD, Air Force, and Joint patient movement standards.
  • Quality Improvement — Feeding into patient safety reporting systems when events or equipment issues occur.

U.S. service members, dependents, and other authorized patients rely on the professionalism of AE crews to deliver high-quality en route care around the globe.

Need Help with AF Form 3890?

If you are preparing for an AE mission, training as a flight nurse, or need clarification on related forms (such as AF Form 3899), consult your unit’s Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron leadership, Chief Nurse, or the latest DAFI 48-107 guidance. For form access and examples, check official Air Force e-Publishing and AMC resources.

Download AF Form 3890 here: Official PDF Link

This article is for informational purposes and is based on publicly available U.S. Air Force sources. Always refer to the most current official publications and your chain of command for mission-specific guidance.

Keywords: AF Form 3890, Aeromedical Evacuation Inpatient Nursing Summary, Air Force AE documentation, flight nurse forms, AF Form 3899 series, aeromedical evacuation nursing care, USAF patient movement.