to fly or not

Generally, most good companies are looking for at least three years of ICU/ER experience. It sounds like you are on the right track however.

Thanks for the reply. I am battling with the choice of leaving the position I have and commuting to another city for the experience or staying here and adding to my training, ex. PHTLS, NRP, PALS. any advice is appreciated.

Can you not obtain experience in your current facilities ER or ICU? In addition, I would not discredit your OR experience. However, having a solid foundation in critical care will be a key component for success as a flight nurse in many cases.

hi, i also am a 40+ rn (but a male) that has wanted to fly. i just was offered a job as a helicopter nurse (which i accepted) for the hospital that i currently work at. lets face it age is not suppose to play a part in the hiring process but we are in the same boat and any advantage i can obtain fairly i will take. i agree with the previous post but just wanted to add if there is a hospital near you that has a flight program try working for them and then transfer into that department. flight jobs are competitive and it is easier to obtain a job by transferring. the hospitals often take inside candidates due to cost and knowing an employees work habits. it is a much safer hire for managers and more cost effective for the hospital. the hospital that i just got my flight job at had 8 other nurses just from inside the hospital that applied. it had not been posted to the outside. i am sure i was not the most qualified if they looked outside the hospital but i was a known entity. they know my work ethic and knowledge base. they know i am not super nurse but is someone they can mold. best of luck, i know you can get there, i did. let me know if i can help in any way.

I'd work on getting the certifications and consider some more critical care time, but your diverse background will serve you well when you start flying.

I want to fly. Flight company here requires a minimum of 5 years' ED/ICU/Trauma experience. I've got 2 years of cardiac under my belt, soon to start in the ED.