Flight Nurse experience adequate ?

c5150b · Apr 28, 2006

Just curious? What do flight nurses generally make $$?

2814 · Apr 28, 2006

Base pay of 63K. Paid time for classes, extra work, QA/QI, teaching classes, etc etc., usually make 85K - 90K yr (but I tend to work a lot).

MmacFN · Apr 28, 2006

Hey C5

Well, its extremely variable across the country.

If you work at a hospital based system the average pay is typical critical care pay plus an hourly extra. I would estimate the average FN at a hospital based system is making near top of the pay scale, like 60K orso. We dont do it for the money

Now, if you work for a independant air med company, which is the way the enitre industry is going, your wage is less. I work for a system that went from hospital based where we would manage trauma room pts and ICU/TICU patients on down time, to our program being sold and we were all moved out of hospital into bases. In some ways its nice, but in others it sucks. Im at the top of the pay scale where i work and my hourly is 27$. Not special considering most of the new grads are making 25 orso in the hospital. hehe

Now, on the otherhand, when we were apart of a hospital system we worked stand up 12 hour shifts just like every RN, busy busy busy. We were the code team, the advanced procedure team etc. Now, as an independant base, if we dont fly, we are hanging out with free time, high speed inet, our own rooms to sleep, DVD and TV and satellite to keep us busy (hence why im on here so damn much ). Ive taken that extra time to do a bunch of online classes, research and such. We also switched to 24 and 12 hour shifts. So i work 4 12's and 4 24's a month and thats fulltime. It affords a nice quality of life as i never leave work tired off my feet like i do when i work in the hospital. On average we fly 3 times a 24 hour period and that typically represents about 9-10 hours work in a 24 hour period. While its often intense, its not "physically hard" most of the time like working in the hospital always is.

Anyway, hope that helped!

Just curious? What do flight nurses generally make $$?

c5150b · Apr 28, 2006

Thanks so much for the insight epccrn and MmacFN. Great information! This would be a consideration for me later down the road as I feel the excitement would be intense as well as the opportunity to help in emergency situations. This is definatley a career that wouldn't be money driven however the $$ does not sound all that bad. However, there is the element of a dreaded unthinkable helicopter crash . My mom says no way to this career:) Also I feel it would be very difficult to see some of the scenes like drunk driver killed family or kids or even teens:( Anyway thanks again guys and keep on doing what you do!

herseyjh · May 3, 2006

I just thought I would quickly post to clarify the question on flight nursing. MmacFN you said that some programs are willing to look at FN experience. Does that mean you got accepted based on your FN time?

Just wondering as I have been working as a FN for the last three years, and CCU before that, so my critical care experience would be considered not current. I guess what I am saying here is if FN time works that is cool as I really wouldn't want to give up my job to go back and work in a CCU for a year just to meet the requirements of most programs.

JH

MmacFN · May 3, 2006

Hey Hersey

you are in the exact situation as i am. My ICU (fulltime anyway) isnt current. However, i have alot of ICU time in an aircraft. The issue is really program specific. When i talked to Univ. New england they felt some of their best students have been FNs and will take that straight up. Others were ok taking it if you had previous ICU time.

Most programs i talked to specifically rathered CVICU time than any other ICU. CV RNs probably get more interaction with hemodynamics including swans than most other areas. I can see why its helpful, it helped me for flight for sure.

You dont need to quit your job to get into a program. What i will say is that its a harder road littered with alot of ignorance in regards to FNs and practice. Of course, thats hardly unexpected since FN in such a small part of nursing in general, we probably shouldnt expect that many know what the job is about.

My advice, (and take what i say with a grain of salt as im not accepted anywhere yet) is that if your looking to increase chance of entrance, go back to the hospital ans specifically to the CVICU. If your willing to narrow the choice of school to mostly east coast programs, you may get in on your first try as a FN. Call the directors and ask what they think, thats what i did and i got honest answers that quickly ruled out a few schools for me.

Good luck, if i can be of any help lemme know via PM on the board.

Mike

I just thought I would quickly post to clarify the question on flight nursing. MmacFN you said that some programs are willing to look at FN experience. Does that mean you got accepted based on your FN time?
Just wondering as I have been working as a FN for the last three years, and CCU before that, so my critical care experience would be considered not current. I guess what I am saying here is if FN time works that is cool as I really wouldn't want to give up my job to go back and work in a CCU for a year just to meet the requirements of most programs.
JH

gasmn2b · May 7, 2006

Uh......Check, check. Mike to the mike please......Mike to the mike please......Is Flight Nurse Mike in the house?
Seriously, he's probably got more insight on this than any of us. He'll be around shortly.

Thats kind of funny. Not knowing any of you but having read a lot of post by ya'll. It is actually a slow night at work here and I have had some time to actually read and respond to some threads for once.