motion sickness with flight/transport nursing?

[nursecass]

I would love to do flight nursing, and there are some really great opportunities around me for that but I am worried I wouldn't be able to do it since I get motion sick occasionally. I used to be worse as a kid and have grown out of some, but when I am on a commercial airplane and we hit a lot of turbulence for more than a few moments I get queasy. I wish there were a way for me to "shadow" and fly with a crew for a day to see how I did but I know that's not possible. I just don't want to apply for a job, get the job and realize on my first day that I need as much treatment as the patient mid flight.

I am just wondering if any of you have/had problems with motion sickness? How do you deal with it? Does it tend to go away or ease up a bit when you are "distracted" taking care of a pt? TIA!

[chare]

some programs do offer a ride along program.

vanderbilt lifeflight ride along

duke life flight ride-a-long program

if neither of these are a possibility for you, you might try contacting local flight programs.

[FF-PHRN]

My program regularly has ride alongs. So, I agree, you should check locally, you might be suprised.

On another note...If you are predisposed to motion sickness I highly doubt it would be tolerable for you. The aircraft is small and turbulence is relatively often. Its hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The heat makes things worse(even though the AC works well). You are moving around dealing with the pt quite a bit mixing with the heat and turbulence....maybe you are hungry or maybe just ate a little too much....and the pt just puked....you follow me Im sure.

It may not bug you. Do a ride along and find out! Its a fun job, Good Luck!

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

I did a ride along recently. I am terrified of flying and haven't voluntarily gone in to the air in over 10 years, but the opportunity to do the ride along came up and I took it. I can get motion-sick too sometimes, and I won't lie, you feel like a puppet bouncing on the end of a string.....waaaaaaaay high above the ground, but it was exciting and I was riding with a company whose safety standards I felt comfortable with. Ask around- you may be surprised who has ride along programs that just aren't advertised.