Critical Care Ambulance Nursing?

[scrubby bubby]

Does anyone have any information on Critical Care Ambulance Nursing? Or possibly even helicopter Critical Care Nursing? I am currently working in ICU, (only 7 mos) but am going to take some time off work to focus on finishing BSN degree and taking care of family. I also have 2 1/2 years experience in LTC.

When I am finished with the BSN, I am thinking about making a switch in specialities. I really like dealing with the high acuity level of ICU pts, but due to recent family health issues, I have been very influenced by and impressed with emergency care nursing. My father was also a fireman for over 25 years before he retired and he worked on an ambulance for much of that time, so I grew up with knowing a little bit about the life of an ambulance paramedic.

I have heard that there are RNs employed on ambulance/helicopter/critical care teams and was hoping someone might have more information about this. How much experience do you generally need to do something like this? What is "a day in the life" of an ambulance RN like? I'm guessing they are probably employed for private companies for the most part rather than directly by a hospital? Thanks for any information you might have.

[neneRN, BSN, RN]

We have a county EMS system that does not utilise RNs, so can't comment on that...but as far as flight nursing goes, in my area you have to have had 3-5 years ICU or ER experience and also obtain your paramedic license (used to be a certificate, now its a license in FL). Flight nurses can intubate, insert chest tubes, obtain IO/EJ access as skills beyond what we can do in the hospital. Some larger hospitals have their own flight team, but there are also independent companies- Lifenet and Bayflight are the ones we get most frequently. They bring us a lot of our trauma alerts and do a lot of pedi transfers and burn transfers out from us. The ones I know work a 24 hour shift and then are off for 48 hours. Need to have ACLS, PALS, TNCC, and I'm sure there are probably other certs as well.

[TazziRN, RN]

We have critical care transport teams that include RNs. Most I've met are great, some are good, a few (including the last one I had dealings with) scare me. Not much I can do about that, except perhaps refuse to release the pt to her, but that would delay the care of the pt, so I would have to weight the risks and benefits of doing that.

We have a flight team in the county and they're great. If they're busy we often utilize Stanford Lifeflight, who are also wonderful. They both require critical care experience, although each requires a different length of time in that field.

Transport nursing is not for everyone. You have to have a very independent streak and be self-confident, because in between facilities you are on your own.

[scrubby bubby]

Oooh, I am excited just hearing that! I do have ACLS, PALS already. And being independent doesn't scare me. I really like the thought of that. I do believe I would need more experience, however.