Downtime as a transport RN

SothereIwasright · Feb 14, 2017

It depends on what program you are working for as they are all different. Some that I have worked for require some basic house keeping type of duties to be completed when not on a transport. At times you may be required to do some peer review or on the job training. If you work for a very busy service you might not see your base/quarters/department for your entire shift. I work for a flight and ground transport program. Often, once the daily duties are complete you literally sit and wait for a call to come in.

However, there are programs that have their staff work in the ED until a transport request comes in. So there is no "one size fits all" answer to your question. I hope this helps.

Mike

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Feb 14, 2017

^Thanks for the input. I was not looking for a one size fits all answer. To me it's obvious each place varies, that is why I asked for nurses to list if they work for a hospital or for a private company.

I am just interested in what you currently do and if that is a hospital or private company.

RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2017

I work for a large academic hospital flight program and we work 12 hour shifts , rotating days and night shifts. Usually the first 2 hours of our shift is committed to checking our aircraft, equipment, setting up night vision goggles (if on nights) attending the pilot's briefing and doing specific chores required for that day. Once that is done, completing chart QA is required. We are then available to assist in the hospital , specifically ICUs, ED and responding to Code Blues, Rapid Responses, Stroke codes and Major Traumas. In all these situations however, we are supernumerary as there are full time RN's assigned to do that as well. We never take patient assignments as we need to be able to leave at a moments notice. We carry out procedures in ICU and ED's as well , typically Arterial line insertions and occasionally need to place IV's in hard stick patients using ultra sound. We also have a ton of Online training requirements to complete; both Healthstream for the hospital's clinical requirements as well as Online training for aviation , survival, navigation, hazardous materials and safety . We also need to spend time in the OR every 2 months to get additional anesthesia and airway management training and experience and often we try and get this during a shift in an area that does not require us to change into scrubs etc. Sure there is down time , when there are no calls or other requirements that need doing. That is when you can catch up on reading a journal (air Medical Journal, JEMS, Critical Care) do some research using the medical school library or work on your own projects. Most 12 hour shifts however , if you really are honest, there is something work related that you can be doing/ should be doing. I'm answering your question here on night shift at my desk, when I could be studying for my Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) renewal course in two weeks time . Best of luck.

Wolf at the Door, BSN · Feb 16, 2017

Thank you Ricky. I appreciate the time you took to explain downtime. It was very much appreciated Ricky.

ggeczi107 · Mar 12, 2017

I used to work for a private service, primarily assigned to the SCTU (Specialty Care Transport Unit) and what we used to do during downtime was really up to us. Sometimes dispatch would send us on an errand to go grab them some coffe (excellent way to get out on time by the way) and lift assist for bariatric patients. Usually however I always had my laptop computer with me when it wasn't busy and remained at the base.

However when SCTU was busy we would be going non-stop.