As a Nurse can I work for a search and rescue team?

[Katieacrosen]

Hey,

I am planning on moving to Pagosa Springs, CO. If you don't know the town, it is a mountain town in southern Colorado. I am currently applying to a job at the local hospital, but my long term goal is to work with search and rescue teams. I have been a nurse for six years with a background is in cardiovascular ranging from open hearts to MI's, and I am currently working in an ICU that deals with mainly trauma's, stroke, sepsis and etc.

I don't even know if what I want is even a real job and when I research it online I am not really getting the information that I wanted; I am hoping someone has some first hand knowledge to help me. The job in the hospital is a clinic RN job, and from the description I could do the job easily enough with my current background, but I know that I would want more eventually. I love being outdoors, hiking, backpacking and etc. I want to be a part of the community and use my skills for search and rescue. If I need to take classes and get certifications I am more than happy to put in the work.

Any help or tips is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Katie

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Nursing isn't the credential desired regardless if you were trauma, ED, or open heart.

Nurses don't learn the scene triage, patient stabilization & packaging, transport plus outdoor survival . Those are EMS type skills or scouting skills.

These are a few of the most sought-out skills on a SAR team.

Navigation

Radio Communication

Wilderness Survival

First Aid

Rope and Climbing Experience

Leadership and Teamwork

Experience Trekking in Harsh Environments

Almost all are volunteer.

Search & Rescue Jobs | Chron.com

How to Join a Search and Rescue Team | SkyAboveUs

Education & Certification - The National Association For Search And Rescue

CSRB - Colorado SAR Teams

[Katieacrosen]

Well if it makes any difference, I am very good at land navigation with just a map and compass thank to the army, I have basic wilderness survival skills but I can make those even better, first aid is not a problem, I am a rock climber who also takes frequent backpacking trips through rough terrain. I also have leadership skills also thanks to the army. Maybe it wont be a full time job, but volunteer is fine. Thanks for the web links, much appreciated.

[RiskManager]

I used to be on a local search and rescue team, I was a paramedic, and we had several other health professionals on the volunteer team: physicians, nurses, a physical therapist and some others. Probably the single most important and useful medical training one can have for search and rescue is one of the wilderness medical certifications: Wilderness Medicine Training Center - Wilderness Medicine Training Center Home to teach you care in austere conditions with only the supplies you pack in. Most of the care is basic to advanced first aid to stabilize the patient while awaiting the helicopter or while packing the patient out on a litter because the weather has shut down aeromedical evac. I am not aware of a whole lot of paid positions on SAR, other than government employees, such as the military or Forest Service rescue personnel and the county Sheriff SAR team leaders.

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

Just show up to a local SAR training session with some pace-count beads on your pack strap... you'll be in-like-flynn.:)

Seriously though, these previous posters are correct.There will be exceptions, but expect to not only volunteer vs draw a paycheck, but to pay for most of your gear. Also, it's common to spend time beyond training on fundraising efforts. Teams are usually pretty cash-strapped as a group.

[Cvepo]

Have you looked into flight nursing? Not as outdoorsy as you may want, but it might be similar to what you are interested in?

[HbombCBTMEDRN]

I used to be on a local search and rescue team, I was a paramedic, and we had several other health professionals on the volunteer team: physicians, nurses, a physical therapist and some others. Probably the single most important and useful medical training one can have for search and rescue is one of the wilderness medical certifications: Wilderness Medicine Training Center - Wilderness Medicine Training Center Home to teach you care in austere conditions with only the supplies you pack in. Most of the care is basic to advanced first aid to stabilize the patient while awaiting the helicopter or while packing the patient out on a litter because the weather has shut down aeromedical evac. I am not aware of a whole lot of paid positions on SAR, other than government employees, such as the military or Forest Service rescue personnel and the county Sheriff SAR team leaders.

This right here is the same advice I was going to give. I was a Combat Medic for 8 years, now about to finish my BSN. I'm getting out of LA and heading to the PNW for the sole purpose of trying to get a SAR/flight nurse role. This course quoted up above is absolutely worth looking into, also look up Life Flight Network, It doesn't seem like the easiest field to get in, but you can't let that deter you! Just keep thinking about how much better it'll be than working inside a hospital (nothing against anyone who enjoys working in a hospital, to each their own). Its just like the military, keep getting certified, the more tools in the box the more places you can go. Really glad to see someone else out there as interested in this field as I am!