Critical Care Transport RN

astn · Oct 12, 2011

It's a pretty boring but generally easy job. Most of the time you're just doing routine transports that aren't in any way "critical care". Since you're in New Jersey, which (so far as I know) doesn't allow Paramedics to do ALS transfers, you're going to do even more BS then an average transport nurse. I have heard that in northern NJ either they are trialing or have allowed paramedics to do some ALS transfers, but since it's new for the state, I'm sure there will be teething problems.

Most of the peds tend to go by a pediatric transport service affiliated with a major tertiary care center instead of via the regular service, though since I don't know which service you're talking about it's possible you'd have to do both.

You're almost entirely on your own, and have to exercise a lot of independent medical judgement, as there isn't anyone or any time to get orders or instructions from medical command once you've taken the transport. You also don't have the help that you're used to from working in a hospital. I haven't had a lot of patients code on me during transport (maybe I'm just that good) but when it does happen, It's just me, or I may be assisted by a paramedic.

It's a different job. Most of the people I know who are successful are former paramedics (or at least EMTs) and used to working on their own without the resources of a hospital, but I do know several who had no prior "street" time and know of many more.

umcRN, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2011

I have never worked transport but it's something I have a lot of interest in doing someday. I work in a children's hospital in the NICU and CICU. In the NICU in particular the docs get the call about a sick baby and the transport nurses go to get them. The transport nurses go on their own with a paramedic driving the ambulance or transport services flying the helicopter. The nurses are in contact with the doctors but their job is to really get the babies back alive no matter what it takes to make that happen. They do of course do routine back transfers or transfers to rehab facilities, and when there are no admissions they can have slow days but their busy days intrigue me.

EmergencyNrse · Oct 12, 2011

It's the best job ever!

You have to be pretty sound clinically.

Be able to think on your feet.

We transport trauma, head injury, chest tubes, cath-lab patients, sepsis, STEMI,

stroke, high-risk pregnancy with impending deliveries. Really sick/injured babies

External pacing, ventilators, balloon pumps, ICP & central line monitoring, multiple drips...

Are you able to assess, determine course of treatment and act if a patient crashes?

Consider that you're alone in the back of a truck. There is no code button. No one

coming to help you. No doctor order... You choose the pain medication. You choose

the vasopressor. You mix and hang the drip. You run the code. You have complete autonomy.

You actually get to use your protocols.

It's Fun, Exciting, Boring, Stressful... it's awesome.

(Well, maybe not so awesome if you get motion sickness)

I can't believe they pay me to do it.

Isabelle49 · Oct 12, 2011

Is this a job in the Louisiana area?

MomRN0913 · Oct 12, 2011

no, not Louisiana, ASTN said it right, Northern NJ!

Thanks for all that info. I think it might be something I would really enjoy.

My clinical skills are good, i like to take charge in a code.... Boring is good with action and every now and then. I only haven't taken care of a balloon pump (I am certified as of 2 years ago but our facility rarely got them) and only surgical ICU did ICP monitoring

I like when someone says "I can't believe they pay me to do this"

I think I would love this. Of course, no one ever called me back.... sigh......