Becoming a Transport RN?

Specialties Emergency

Updated:   Published

Specializes in Emergency Department.
Becoming a Transport RN?

I'm an ED nurse at a critical access hospital in a rural area. Frequently RNs have to help transport patients to tertiary centers 

I talked to my educator and the director at the ambulance service they seemed happy that I want to be trained to go on transports and if possible be ready by the end of next year to do it.  They both are going to talk more about it after the holidays.  

Wondering if anyone here has experience with doing this? Recommend any books? YouTube? any pearls? 

 I have ACLS, PALS, TNCC will be getting my TNPC in March.  I plan on taking my CEN in the fall.  I attend every single lecture, training and simulations I can.  I ask all the questions and love soaking up all the knowledge.

Thanks so much any insight would be so appreciated.  ? 

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More of a critical care role than trauma/emergency. I'd focus on that.

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Completely agree with the previous post.  If you haven't done so, you might consider visiting the Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) site; their study and prepare page contains several helpful links.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
offlabel said:

More of a critical care role than trauma/emergency. I'd focus on that.

Thanks! I was thinking that too. 

chare said:

Completely agree with the previous post.  If you haven't done so, you might consider visiting the Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN) site; their study and prepare page contains several helpful links.

Best wishes.

That's a great idea I will check it out. 

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Critical Care Transport, ER.

I started my career in a critical access hospital and was frequently on transports to tertiary centers. What state are you working in? In some areas, this is less common, and the structure regulations can be tricky; in others, it's a common practice with well-defined roles for nurses in transport. 

If you want to put some time and money into training, I highly recommend ImpactEMS and FlightbridgeED. Both companies offer online courses for transport medicine for nurses and paramedics. I have taken both and found them immensely helpful. I was working full-time as a transport nurse in an ambulance prior to my new role. 

If you like podcasts, some of my favorites are Heavy Lies the Helmet, The Coffee-Break HEMS Podcast, and the FlightBridgeED Podcast. (a lot of the content is geared towards flight medicine but is equally applicable)

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Welcome to the crazy world of out-of-hospital medicine!

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