My New Life as a Transport Nurse

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Specializes in NICU, Pediatrics/PICU.

A few months ago, I started a job at the top critical care transport program in my state. I'm still in orientation and (for now) only part time, but I wanted to share my limited, "new kid" experience.

I tell people it's simultaneously the best and worst thing to happen to me.

It's amazing to have a job where they focus so heavily on education, keeping up your skills, and learning something new every day. My coworkers have been through it all together, and as a result are overall some of the nicest and most supportive people I have met in my experience of being a newbie. It's great - and sometimes funny - to be with people who are also "Type A" and driven to go the extra mile in their careers. I get to see so many different conditions and situations in a relatively short period of time. I can feel myself becoming a better nurse. And, at the end of the day, flying back to base and looking out over the amazing view, I get to realize - I'm getting paid to fly in a helicopter, for Pete's sake.

But it's scary as hell sometimes. I'm a NICU nurse doing neo-peds, so there's a whole PICU side of things that I have to learn about and how to handle it like I've been doing it for years...in a small metal box on wheels or under rotor. And I have to learn how to do it when it's just me, an RT, and a pilot or EMT on board. What was my MAR on the unit with all drugs ordered by a physician and verified by pharmacy, is now my protocol book, the calculator in my pocket, the bag of meds I carry with me, and my brain. What was my five person admitting team on the unit is now my partner and I (and med control on the phone) trying to figure out what happened, how to stabilize it, and how to manage it while traveling in an ambulance or aircraft. Every shift has at least one challenge in it somewhere. Outside studying is necessary. Some days you feel great and confident, and others you feel like you actually know nothing.

It. Is. Awesome.

Complete dream job. Every day I wonder how I got this lucky.

To all of you future transport nurses out there, keep working! Study, take those difficult patients, get certified in everything, get involved on your unit, and study some more. You can do it!

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A few months ago, I started a job at the top critical care transport program in my state. I'm still in orientation and (for now) only part time, but I wanted to share my limited, "new kid" experience.

I tell people it's simultaneously the best and worst thing to happen to me.

It's amazing to have a job where they focus so heavily on education, keeping up your skills, and learning something new every day. My coworkers have been through it all together, and as a result are overall some of the nicest and most supportive people I have met in my experience of being a newbie. It's great - and sometimes funny - to be with people who are also "Type A" and driven to go the extra mile in their careers. I get to see so many different conditions and situations in a relatively short period of time. I can feel myself becoming a better nurse. And, at the end of the day, flying back to base and looking out over the amazing view, I get to realize - I'm getting paid to fly in a helicopter, for Pete's sake.

But it's scary as hell sometimes. I'm a NICU nurse doing neo-peds, so there's a whole PICU side of things that I have to learn about and how to handle it like I've been doing it for years...in a small metal box on wheels or under rotor. And I have to learn how to do it when it's just me, an RT, and a pilot or EMT on board. What was my MAR on the unit with all drugs ordered by a physician and verified by pharmacy, is now my protocol book, the calculator in my pocket, the bag of meds I carry with me, and my brain. What was my five person admitting team on the unit is now my partner and I (and med control on the phone) trying to figure out what happened, how to stabilize it, and how to manage it while traveling in an ambulance or aircraft. Every shift has at least one challenge in it somewhere. Outside studying is necessary. Some days you feel great and confident, and others you feel like you actually know nothing.

It. Is. Awesome.

Complete dream job. Every day I wonder how I got this lucky.

To all of you future transport nurses out there, keep working! Study, take those difficult patients, get certified in everything, get involved on your unit, and study some more. You can do it!

Thank you for sharing this.

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It's nice to see someone so enthusiastically happy about what they are doing. Your awe is inspiring.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It is amazing isn't it?

One of the reasons I have loved it so much. Good for you!

Safe travels!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I'm fairly new to transport as well. Love how you described it-so true! Much luck

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Thanks for the motivational story. My goal is to one day be a flight nurse and it is great to hear that it can happen. I am about to graduate and just got accepted to an ICU new grad residency program. I am so excited to take the next step toward my goal and it is awesome to hear from someone who has reached that goal and is loving it.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Thats great to hear! I, too, am hopeful that I am able to do MICU one day and keep up my critical thinking skills all along the way. Keep enjoying!

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Specializes in med surg, nicu.

I am a Nicu nurse and there are ped hospitals with transport positions. One states it is a 2 person team. I don't know if I can handle that. 2 other teams come to my hospital but its at least 4 people. How I can do a 2 person team every day I don't know. I'm glad you like it.

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I'm an old RT who went to nursing school at age 50. I did neo transport as an RT and neo peds as a nurse. Peds was hard to adapt to. My first DKA and seizure kid was scary. My first RSI was terrifying. I love the work though.

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I am a transport nurse as well. I do ground transport across country. It is exciting and you get to use all the skills you have...your assessment skills are key to this type of a position.

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Sounds pretty amazing! The thought has crossed my mind- something to aspire to perhaps. Thank you for sharing your story!

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