When there isn't an emergency

[Chesterton1]

Hi guys, I was just wondering what a flight nurse does when there isn't an emergency at the moment? are you on call or do you generally help out in ICU or something until you are called out?

[mrdearmas]

theWildernessRN, where are you located?

[RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN]

At most hospital based Flight/ CCT programs, such as the one where I work , RN's spend the first 2 hours of the shift preflighting the helicopter/ ambulance/ airplane followed by the pilot briefing with all crew and dispatchers . We have daily chores to do as well on each shift (days/nights) such as ordering oxygen, deep cleaning the helicopter/ ambulance, ordering stock/supplies, picking up linen etc. There is also QA to do on each and every PCR for each transport. This is done by both day and night shift RN's. Then there are education requirements to meet including Online Healthstream modules for the hospital and Safety, Aviation emergencies, survival etc Online training. We are required to go to the OR every 2-3 months to get as many intubations as possible and are required to attend two Human Patient simulation and skills days annually. In addition, we are required to spend 4 hours each year in NICU, PICU and L&D as clinical rotations. When we are not doing all of the above, we respond to Code Blue's in the hospital as well as RRT's , Major trauma's , Stroke codes and help out if the ED or ICU need some extra hands. Unlike the community based programs, you really don't have much 'down time' , but the benefit is that the shift is only 12 hours and fairly close to home.