ERRN324

Thank you very much for that response. It is somewhat strange because I started out with this EMS company as an Explorer doing ride alongs on their ground ambulances, then worked side by side with them for 10 years as a volunteer firefighter, then worked contract work on their fixed wing and now I will be an employee on their rotor aircraft. I know all the crew quite well so it is exciting but there are some little things that I feel awkward asking but was curious about. Thanks.

I really do appreciate your response. I have spoken to two separate people at the insurance office and have personally reviewed my policy. My agent literally laughed when I told him this. He said he has never heard of ANYONE losing their life insurance for anything other than not paying premiums. However, your seeming knowledge on the subject allowed me to break out the actual policy and re-read all 52 pages. Not a single word in it about losing the policy due to jobs. Lots of stuff about criminal acts, suicide, and falsifying the application but that is about it. Without sarcasm, I appreciate you pushing me to review the policy as this was a very important aspect of taking the job.

While I appreciate the negative response, that's a common thing said about life insurance and safety. I'll say several things. First, like any smart adult, I've had life insurance for years. I contacted my life insurance company at the suggestion of another nay sayer. They laughed and said once you have life insurance, it's yours. You can smoke crack, shoot a human, rob a bank, become a lawyer, move to Antarctica; basically do what you want and it is yours. You can't lose it or have it revoked or have your premiums change. You can not lose it. Second,as far as safety goes, air medical is obviously an inherently dangerous job. However, this company flies duel pilot IFR in twin engine aircraft with ZERO accidents in their five rotor and one fixed wing aircraft. Considering it is obvious you have never flown, I am not sure if that means anything to you, but it is decent in HEMS. I appreciate your input but you did not address a single question or issue I posed. Now I will ask one moreqyestion. Tell me about YOUR experience in the flight world. I'll take positive or negative discussion as long as it is your personal experience and not some negative talk because you are butt hurt about never having done it. Thanks.

Newbie question. Really just bored and want to hear people's stories and thoughts. Just landed my first rotor wing job. I had sort of given up the dream and went and got a Masters degree and then was contacted by the company that I always thought I would work with for a job offer. They have always only staffed a paramedic and never a nurse. I worked with them on their fixed wing operation as they typically fly RN/NREMT-P. For various reasons, they're converting to that configuration in their rotor aircraft. Anyway, I've have read enough and been around enough to know the long road ahead, but I'm curious about something rarely discussed; station life. I have always worked ER and 12 hour shifts so I really don't know what it's like at a station for 24 hours at a time (they work 24/48). For instance, do you show up in flight jumpsuits and stay in it for 24 hours? Do you typically shower and change mid shift? You ever leave for food or always bring something? What kinds of things are often done in a typical shift other than run calls, check inventory, review previous cases? Any thoughts or stories would be appreciated.

Long story short. The only HEMS company in my area only uses a paramedic and never a nurse. They have been the sole provider for years. I have dreamed of HEMS work since I was a kid. Finally, after nearly giving up hope, an Air Evac base opened about 5 miles from my home. Previously, the closest company to use nurses was about 3 hours away. My friends who work for "the other company" have put the fear of God in me about flying single engine. They are stating they would rather quit their profession than fly in single engine. Can anyone provide objective informatoin regarding single engine aircraft. Also, can anyone provide any information on what it is like to fly with Air Evac? Thanks.

What exactly is Registry? Is it the same as agency? How often in advance is the work booked? More importantly, what can an ER nurse with 5 years experience expect doing registry in northern California? I am from Louisiana and cannot do a contract due to school and family. I am considering flying in and out of California about 7 days on and 7 days off. Could I schedule 5 days of work in a row while in California? Any help is appreciated.

I was told that Air Evac works 24 on 24 off x 5 and then off 6. Is that on 24 off 24 x 5 days or five shifts?

I got two e-mails 7 days ago. One from the Base Clinical Lead and one from the Program Director. Both stated they wanted to interview me for a new Fixed Wing base that they were opening. It would be a phone interview. &nbsp;The last e-mail stated that they would contact me soon to set up a phone interview. New Years Eve and New years day were in this time frame. My question is, when should I follow up? I do not want to pester them but I do want to show my interest. Should I call or should I e-mail?<br><br><br>My other question is, has anyone done a phone interview? Any suggestions?<br><br>Thanks.

I got two e-mails 7 days ago. One from the Base Clinical Lead and one from the Program Director. Both stated they wanted to interview me for a new Fixed Wing base that they were opening. It would be a phone interview. The last e-mail stated that they would contact me soon to set up a phone interview. New Years Eve and New years day were in this time frame. My question is, when should I follow up? I do not want to pester them but I do want to show my interest. Should I call or should I e-mail? My other question is, has anyone done a phone interview? Any suggestions? Thanks.

I kick patients out of triage ALL the time. There are other people who are waiting and I will triage them and come back to the talker later.

South Louisiana $23.97/hr base pay ER RN BSN with ACLS, PALS, ENPC, TNCC, BLS 4 years Full Time 36 hours per week No shift diff for me (7a-7p), weekends gets me $3 an hour Charge nurse (this gets me $1 per hour)

Well, thats the first thing, it is 24 hour shifts so its only twice per week that I would have to commute. The other thing that I am hoping for is to be able to work back to back shifts and that would make it worth my while. Think of it this way, if I have to go back and forth for one shift (48 hours), thats two shifts a week. That's six hours a week driving. If it was an hour away, and it was three 12 s a week thats still six hours a week. I am trying to convince myself that this will be ok. Thanks for all of your help.

How far would you commute for your dream job? I am interviewing for a job that would work two 24 hour shifts per week (its a fixed wing flight job). My commute would be 219 miles or about 3 hours into Houston. Anyone do anything like this? Think this is doable?

Thats really a great point. If Neurology should be consulted but some how a consult for nephrology should have been done, any nurse should know that. It does not take report. If the wrong nephrologist was called on the other hand, how do you expect the ED nurse to know that?

This is now the standard. Hand off is not some magical thing that happens between two people. It is an exchange of information. Reading report on the computer is a hand off as long as the nurse has the chance to ask questions if needed. Presumably this would be at the bedside when the patient arrives but ER staff can never find a nurse to meet us at the bedside. We have been faxing report for years and only calling ICU or cath lab. Surgery comes get their own patients so they get a really nice bedside report. The floor patients are stable and everything is in the chart. No need for me to read it to them, if I know the information, I chart it.