Questions about intra-theatre patient rotary transport

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Is it better to be ER or ICU to do this? I know the Army has the JECC but who and/or how is it determined who cares for the patient when being transported to a greater level hospital in the theatre? I would like to do this but know that it is not a full time job as I will be working in the hospital from which the patient will be evaced from.

Also, if I get on a FST, would they let one of there ICU nurses care for the patient in flight even though there is not very many nurses on the FST?

Thanks for all the help once again.

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Its been awhile but I believe they use Flight Surgeons (PAs, NPs) or Flight Medics (RNs, LVNs).

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My husband is an Army MEDEVAC pilot and he said he's never seen/heard of a nurse accompanying a patient on a helo. MEDEVACs have flight medics (they're not RNs) on every flight, but he said on occasion he's had a doctor or PA. I don't know if they can't, just not from what he's seen.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

http://www.dmrti.army.mil/documents/Intratheater%20Transfer%20Transport%20CPG%20Sep%2007.pdf

We were asked not long ago if we wanted to volunteer for this duty as AF CRNAs.

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So I wonder if the Army will be looking for nurses to perform this job as well...

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I believe that would require an enlistment. You would have to pick an MOS such as medic, combat medic, flight medic etc. You might try the Army National Guard. You could have the best of both worlds without having to make a full time commitment. The Guard deploys all the time and you could volunteer to go with other states.

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Hmmm...I did not think the Guard. I know they have nurses as well

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I'd have to agree with you davisone that they are indeed utilizing critical care nurses for some transport now based on that article. The JECC course is 1:1 enrollment of medic to care provider (MD, PA or RN), with only a few courses a year, and its a joint course, so probably not a lot of nurses out there yet that have been through the course?

There are some older listings about JECC on flightweb, you might get better feedback if you post there. Here are the links to some threads I saw:

http://www.flightweb.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2190

http://www.flightweb.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=349&st=0

I wonder if you'd have to also go through SERE-C like the rest of the flight crew.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, home health, travel nurse.

I found this on the Army HRC website:

NEW: SORT Team Opportunity: Please contact MAJ Richardson for application process. Located at Fort Bragg

  • Applications must be received NLT 15 JAN 2010 COB
  • Must have Chief Nurse endorsement
  • Must be physically eligible and willing to attend ABN School, SERE Training, and multiple deployments
  • This will be filled through a board selection process

*It is available for RNs with the a M5 or 8A skill identifier. Not so such what exactly SORT team entails but you must be eligible and willing to attend SERE. Not so sure about SERE training and acceptable starvation for 3wks...emaciated just isnt a good look. But i would love to go airborne.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, home health, travel nurse.

BTW....it say 2010 but it was posted like Dec2010/Jan2011 i believe

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The Guard defineately has RNs. Theyve got a TON of medical units with LVNs, Medic's, RNs, NP/PA's, DR's. Many of them used the GI Bill to obtain advanced degrees and get promoted. They even have Special Forces units. If you could handle Sere school and want to go Airborne maybe you should consider becoming a Special Forces Medic. Of course its much easier said than done but you would come out as a PA, and get all the special schools you want such as Halo and Airborne. I could be wrong but they dont send regular flight crews through Sere. Pilots Yes, medics and flight surgeons No.

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