Does PICU/NICU count towards experience to become a flight nurse?

[DaniellaHumphreys]

Hi guys so I currently am a CNA in the childbirth center at a hospital here in Seattle, WA with an interview for a residency at my hospital in their level 3 NICU as an RN (just graduated) I'm sure I'm going to get it because the NICU manager and I are close. Anyway, my future goal is to be a flight nurse and I love the acute care setting and learning what to do in an emergency situation for all types of people and ages. If I do get in NICU, I know the PICU here in Seattle likes RNs that have NICU level 3/4 experience so that's what I'd most likley end up doing after a couple years in NICU. From PICU I can always jump into an adult ICU with the experience I'll have since I know thats basically required to become a flight nurse. My questions are...

Does NICU/PICU experience count towards the 5-10 years experience of ICU to become a flight nurse?

Do you HAVE to have ED experience?

Does having NICU/PICU experience make you more qualified to getting a job as a flight nurse? (is it a bonus to have?) on top of adult ICU experience?

Thank you!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Yes they are counted. Yes you should have level one trauma ED experience and adult cardiac/surgical experience. It is not an easy hop skip and a "Jump" to adult ICU. Children are COMPLETELY different from adults.

What will make you a preferred candidate is all of them. Then you need your certifications...CCRN, CEN, CPEN etc

[h=3]CEN – BCEN[/h]

http://www.pncb.org/ptistore/control/exams/cpen/index

[h=3]CCRN — Certification for Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal ...[/h]

[Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

NICU transport is its own specialty in transport medicine; so NICU experience can certainly serve you well if you want that specific niche. The real answer to your questions is: it depends on the program you want to work in, and its managers. If you want to work in a fixed-wing, interfacility transport-only program then ER experience is far less important. Most (not all) flight programs use a crew of nurse and medic. The nurse's key role is to bring the skills and experiences that the medic doesn't have, and vice versa. The medic usually understands acute trauma and airway management better; the nurse should understand the critical care and med management better. Both get cross-trained to understand what the other does. Paper certs are far less important or considered than real education and experience. Time and again I've seen crew members and managers say they care little about certifications. Most managers and programs give you time to get a CFRN or CCRN, etc. What they really want is proven ability to perform and to learn, and to do so independently and responsibly.

Bottom line? If there is a flight program that you have in mind, go speak with their program manager and/or Chief Flight Nurse. Ask them straight up, "what should I do to maximize my chance of working here in a few years?" That's the best step you can take.

[BNE103]

Every transport program is potentially different. As Medic09 mentioned, look to the program(s) you're interested in for guidance. For instance, I know some that have NICU-only transport teams, so NICU experience only works for them and isn't very useful for their pediatric or adult team counterparts.

In my program, we have Neonatal/Pediatric teams that transport neonates and all peds, so NICU AND PICU experience both count. ED experience is not necessary for us, but could be useful, however we don't hire those with only ED experience. ICU experience tends to be preferred as we are mainly critical care transport. Our teams are RN and RT, with the occasional EMT if we are going by ground.

[GregoryGeczi]

In NJ they are counted.