Life of a helicopter MEDEVAC flight nurse?

[drichie]

Good evening everyone,

Here's the short on me: 20 years old. Hometown in Florida. Joined the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman last year. Graduated top of my class. Promoted first time up making me E-4, scored in the 99th percentile. Stationed in a Naval Hospital in California in the PICU ward (love it). Certified, or about to be, in BLS-I, ACLS-I, PALS-P, EMT-B (National), maybe PHTLS in the near future.

I have the time to take some college classes and that got me to thinking what I want to do with my life as I'm still deciding.

The Questions: What is the life of a trauma helicopter flight nurse/paramedic like? What are their hours? What is their usual pay? Is there more pay the longer you're in? Are there usually good benefits? Do you think there is enough off-time for your family or do you hardly see them? I have no kids yet but it's something I think about, being there to raise them is important to me.

Finally I'll want to move back to Florida when I get out (next 2-3.5 years). Any info on Florida requirements for flight nurses/paramedics will be greatly appreciated (What experience will I need; do they prefer a nurse/nurse team, nurse/paramedic, so on..)

[Whoatemyburger]

Northshore health system in NY is starting that program . You need extensive ICU experience or ER .

[BR157]

To be a Paramedic, you need to get the EMT and then take the Paramedic course. This should take you about a year at any tech school and most community colleges have the 2 semester cert program. Then, you need to start applying for all the fire departments. Most FDs won't look at your application unless you have the Paramedic cert. You'll get the military preference points so you have a better chance of getting hire with a decent department.

The FD is about the only way to have great benefits and pay. Most EMS is fire based so working a private transport ambulance won't get you the experience you need to work a helicopter. The Fire Paramedics are the lead on EMS calls even if you have a Paramedic patch if you work private. After a couple years you can apply for the flight job and many FDs have their own helicopters.

For nurses they prefer them to have a Bachelors degree and 5 years working in an ICU and ER. Even that does not give them what they need to work a helicopter. In Florida the nurses must take the EMT course and most also want the RNs to get the Paramedic patch so they can function outside of a hospital. RNs don't get most of the skills or on scene knowledge of a Paramedic in their training or work experience.