Flight Nursing

[DidiRN]

Education Requirements

Flight nurses require a registered nurse with several years of experience in critical care and/or emergency nursing. Some RNs may already be required to have or plan on obtaining paramedic certification. BLS, ACLS, NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support) are usually required as well. Hazardous material training is beneficial due to the occasional landing sites near accidents or large scale spills of hazardous materials.

Work Environment

Flight nurses work outdoors when arriving at an accident scene or a scene of a disaster. They will also be traveling to inpatient facilities for interhospital transfers that may require rapid transport. There are challenges while working inflight that include cramped surroundings and loud noise from the aircraft. Noise is such a problem that many employers require intermittent hearing tests and all flight crew are required or strongly encouraged to wear hearing protection.

Skills / Qualities

The ability to quickly adapt to different working environments is important. Nurses must be skilled in many different areas such as managing IV medications, ventilation management, advanced life support and cardiac monitoring. Understanding of pre hospital and emergency care on top of critical care is vital. Quick life and death decisions are frequent, so nurses must be comfortable in the management of the critically ill. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work in high pressure, rapidly changing situations is highly valued. Some employers may even have height and weight restrictions.

Duties / Responsibilities

Flight nursing has numerous responsibilities which include:

- Rapid and thorough assessment/triage of patients with conditions such as trauma, cardiac, respiratory and other critical illnesses.

- Management of pediatric clients

- The ability to work closely with other flight nurses, flight paramedics, advanced practice nurses/physicians

- Airway and ventilator management

- Initiation and management of intravenous medication, fluids, and blood products

- Maintaining patient safety before, during and after flight

- May be required to participate in community and outreach and other educational events

- May be required to participate in preflight liftoff checks and/or assist other flight personnel.

- Initiation of emergency care in the absence of a physician

- Management of patients during aircraft problems such as rapid decompression, wheels-up landings, and other aircraft emergencies

Job Outlook

Flight nurses typically experience a low rate of turnover so openings are not as abundant. Employers include private companies, hospital systems, or are members of the military.

Salary

Salaries are typically higher than average for flight nurses due to the extensive required experience. Some websites have quoted an average salary of $55,000 per year to up to $96,000 per year.

Resources

Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association

http://www.astna.org/

Flight Nursing from Discover Nursing

http://www.discovernursing.com/specialty/flighttransport-nurse#.UpqaVMRDvng

Association of Air Medical Services

http://www.aams.org/

Medevac Foundation International

http://www.medevacfoundation.org/