Anyone know about air ambulance nursing?

[suanna]

I have considered looking for a position with an air transport company for long distance patient transport. I'm not talking about the "med flight" helicopters but air transport for patients who need to be monitored while relocating from one state to another or even one country to another. Has anyone worked this type of position? How are you paid? Are there jobs out there? Any leads would be appriciated!

[nursechick1967]

For what it's worth, let me just share a bit of what I have found. There are companies that do interstate and also intercountry transports. I do not know their names unfortunately. I would suggest getting a bit of ground transport/critical care transport experience. All the years of "floor" nursing do nothing for transport medicine. If you can, obtain a paramedic or at least EMT certification. It looks good and provides education on patient care "on the fly". Ground transport critical care (as alot of hospitals have) pay by the hour. You are normally on for a 8 or 12 hour shift. You can run anything from a convalescent trip to a "hot" run with a cardiac or burn patient to a specialty facility. That reminds me, if you are prone to motion sickness, take precautions. Riding or flying, doing pt care and trying to chart is challenging.

Also, air transports tend to look for people with alot of er or field experience. It is VERY selective. Take every class pertaining to emergency medicine (CERN, CCRN, ACLS, PALS, NREMT etc.) Anyway, hope that helps. If you have any questions, let me know.