Interview Qs.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Hey all. I have an interview lined up for a flight nurse position. I was just wondering if any of you seasoned folks could give me any tips or info you wish you knew before going into flight nursing. Also, if you can explain how your call v flight time/pay works, I would appreciate it. 

 

Thanks!

[KSmedic, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Good luck in the flight world. I've interviewed for a few different flight companies, and they'll probably ask you questions about all kinds of topics/fields. You'll need a good foundation on everything- trauma, cardiac, peds, pre-hospital, vents, drips, etc.

As for the job itself, I always tell people it's a good job, but a bad career (with the exception of being on a hospital-based flight program where you're an actual hospital employee). All of the privately-owned flight companies are notorious for low pay, long hours and mediocre benefits.

For example, one company I flew with (a privately owned one) worked their full-timers 84 hrs one week, and then off the entire next week. There was no overtime during these 84 hours, because of some job classification loophole, and the hourly rate was sad (I make $10/hr more working in the hospital 1.5 years later). I don't say all this to scare you, or anyone, out of the job. It's a lot of fun and very challenging/rewarding. However, this is something I wish I had known before I got into flight nursing. 

[KG MSN RN CCRN CEN, MSN, RN]

Could you share your experience with the interview? I’m not so concerned about the HR type questions, but more so about the scenario/meds/skills questions. For the interview do they expect you to know various concentration for different drips (for example Levophed 16mg/250ml), all RSI dosages, all vent settings and how to set up vents?

 

I can do my med calculations, know my vent modes, know concentrations for some drips but not all, and know the RSI dosages. 
 

or do they just expect you to know the basics of each of these, ACLS, PALS, and trauma?