Could use some advice on how to do this

fetchfelix · Nov 22, 2015

Rock nurse - I've been flying off and on for nearly 15 of my 25yrs as an RN - we have very similar backgrounds. As I understand it there are a couple of programs that use NPs and certainly I;ve flown with a couple who flew per diem. You will hear a lot of advice regarding this - here's what I posted before :

Ive been a flight RN off & on 15 years, and have worked for 8 different companies in several states. You will hear the same advice, get 3-5 years ICU experience, EMS, etc etc. I will give you the same advice I was given way back when which turned out to be perfect. Forget all that. Here's what you need to do...........figure out where you want to work, which city, state etc. If you want to stay local, contact your local flight program(s) and find out exactly what THEY want. What a lot of people dont know is that the advice you receive is very generic, but in fact its also very local. What does YOUR program of choice do. Do they do a good chunk of scene work? i.e. > 30%. If so go get some EMS experience, even if only some volunteer EMS experience. Understand many states REQUIRE Paramedics on helicopters, and some States require the RN to be a Paramedic also. But I worked for one program that did 90% IFT (inter facility), all they cared about was pure ICU experience, and pretty much heavy MICU / Cardiac ICU. That program did minimal trauma, so getting ER, EMS or trauma experience was a waste of time. Where I work now does MUCH less ICU, and does 60% EMS / scene work so here they dont care about experience with Swanns, and balloon pumps etc etc cos we just dont do that. If you want a really good well rounded experience, get cardiac / cath lab, ER and some EMS. Also crucial is to get known by the program you want to be hired at..........so get that experience IN the hospital that your flight program delivers to so you can get to know the crews. And do a ride along, make sure you actually like to fly and can stand the cramped environment.

Felix

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Nov 22, 2015

I've never known any NPs that fly and there could be some credentialing concerns. First of all, paramedic is a certification, not a license. This means you work under the license of a physician. But if you are a provider yourself, how would this work? Would the agency pick up your malpractice insurance? I've known EMS agencies that won't hire providers, such as NPs or PAs for that reason. I'm not saying it couldn't or doesn't happen though. I think Felix is right, you need to find out what the agencies you want to work for require. As a paramedic myself, you can't just become proficient at EMS by getting a certification. Your ICU experience is excellent, but if your agency does a lot of scene calls, you would need EMS experience, in my opinion. But if they primarily due interfacility, you would probably be fine. Good luck!

guest769224 · Nov 22, 2015

NP's do work on flight helicopters.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 23, 2015

Thanks for all the great advice. I had actually wanted to apply for a flight nurse job in the state flight unit but when I went to apply it looked as though it was an internal position only in the #1 hospital in the state where the flight program is based. I work at the #2 hospital in the same state. Just this morning the job became available again and this time I was able to apply. Perhaps they weren't able to fill from within. I wrote a strong cover letter stating that I am willing to go for my paramedic license and outlined all my experience. I'm hoping I'll hear back and find out what they need me to do to be a viable candidate. I'm not going to be an NP for another year and a half so I'd love to spend that time as an RN being a flight nurse, and then maybe when I graduate they might find a place for me to continue. They do offer ride-alongs for appropriate candidates so I think I'm going to apply for that today. I know each state is different but I'm hoping that when they see where I've been working they'll be willing to work with me. Thanks again!

lavenderskies, BSN · Dec 1, 2015

My dh is a fixed wing medivac pilot. He's flown with NP's in Alaska and Pacific Northwest.