What are the education requirements for a flight nurse?

CP2013 · Oct 25, 2013

You just graduated in August? Many new grads have been looking for an RN job for well over 2 years. This also includes the aspiring CRNAs from that group.
The problem I see is a lack of flexibility. You want an ICU or ED job. Sometimes you have to take other jobs and show you are flexible and willing to do PATIENT CARE regardless of the setting. Not all flight patients will be waiting neatly for you in an ED bed. As a flight nurse you will need to be able to work in many different environments with some lacking in space and equipment. Not every flight patient is a cool trauma either. You will see all types of medical patients and not just the ICU type.
You are also going to find that being an EMT is not going to open up many doors either. With the easy entry and class time for EMT, thousands are out there in the job market with many being unemployed. An EMT mill can churn out at least 20 - 40 students easily every 3 weeks to take the cert exam. Many people from other professions who had been laid off have done these easy courses with the promise of quick employment. Some of them hold Masters degrees in their own professions.

The grad programs for my class opened in May, I was denied. I applied for the next class for October, also denied and yet another class which is in December and was also denied.

I have bills to pay and ailing parents to care for and thankfully my EMT-B course and exam are being paid for by a family member who runs a private medical transport company. While it may not be my dream job, I'd rather use the steady income to at least care for my parents than sit on my bum waiting for someone to throw me a bone(job).

While yes I would like an ED or ICU position, I've applied to SNF, home health, private duty, outpatient surgery, dialysis, and countless other places. I've put out at least 230 applications but only about 10-15 locally because that's all that was available. I've only heard back from 5 or 6 places and have had interviews but always lose out to the experienced nurse.

While I feel for those who have a masters degree previously and went back to school....is it bad that I don't want to be them? I'm 29 and finished my bachelors and thought I was on the right track. The only reason I went to nursing school is because I wanted to work in ED or ICU. When I heard about flight nursing, I KNEW I had chosen the right career. I don't want to be 45 and miserable in an outpatient dialysis job because I can't get in to a hospital.

I want MORE for myself. I'm not shying away from the challenge. I've done those certs to show that I am determined and am willing. All I'm asking for is a stinking Med Surg position so I can start SOMEWHERE. I didn't go through nursing school just to be miserable. I had a dream and if its unattainable, I will have to grieve for my dream and walk away. Not worth putting your life on hold for a career only to have doors slammed.

I chose nursing over my own personal life. I have thrown all that I am into this because I knew where I wanted to work. I had finally figured it out and finally knew what I wanted to accomplish. I will be 30 next year and I have sacrificed so much already. If I keep getting told no, what else should I do? They saying doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result is the definition of insanity-I don't want to be that person.

When I entered nursing school and my parents supported me and I cared for them, it was suppose to be temporary. Now with bills piling I don't have the luxury of not working for much longer. It's funny how certs don't work in your favor to get in a hospital but are a deterrent for working outpatient because they feel you are "overqualified"...never heard such BS in my life.

TraumaSurfer · Oct 26, 2013

Hang in there CP2013. Your efforts will pay off eventually and I hope being an RN will give you the career you want. The healthcare business and economy stinks right now. The baby boomer nurses will eventually retire and hopefully the politicians of this country haven't screwed up health care too badly.

As for the certs not working in your favor, I believe some managers are now seeing the light on the weekend alphabet soup. They don't reflect what you really know or your experience.

CP2013 · Oct 26, 2013

Hang in there CP2013. Your efforts will pay off eventually and I hope being an RN will give you the career you want. The healthcare business and economy stinks right now. The baby boomer nurses will eventually retire and hopefully the politicians of this country haven't screwed up health care too badly.
As for the certs not working in your favor, I believe some managers are now seeing the light on the weekend alphabet soup. They don't reflect what you really know or your experience.

Thanks TraumaSurfer.

I was a CNA/PCT previously and have tons of volunteer hours and community service and an unrestricted license. I get interviews but nothing comes of it. I've been a part of man codes sadly, adult and peds, so I'm not completely oblivious to what the certs are used for, and I've done all I can to develop as a new grad.

When you put your heart and soul into something and see your dream disappearing, it's disheartening. It's not just me, about 75% of my class is still struggling to find a job. Times are tough, so I guess it's time to reevaluate the dream.

ppfd, BSN, EMT-P · Oct 31, 2013

I'm just a lowly Paramedic and ED RN, so take it for what its worth. :)

Talk to flight medics and nurses. Ask them about the job. As mentioned here, it is not all car crashes, and injuries. A lot of inter facility transfers. And with ALS EMS already on scene, doing the majority of the care, the flights can amount to nothing more than monitoring the pt.

Example my EMS agency, we do RSI (rapid intubations with paralytics), IO access, ventilators, and getting into hypothermic treatments.

As shown, there is a lot going on behind the scenes with flying. Training, classes, meetings, yes usually you are paid for all this. But, watching one of my guys that got hired as a flight medic, I appreciate my time off and the job vs. money factor isn't worth it to me. Yeah he's making starting RN wages but, he is putting a lot of time in to qualify for a part time job.

And......... just off the top of my head. Within 100 miles of my home, there are at least 20 helicopters. This leads to heavy competition for those spots.

Critical Care ground transport might be an option.

TraumaSurfer · Nov 1, 2013

Example my EMS agency, we do RSI (rapid intubations with paralytics), IO access, ventilators, and getting into hypothermic treatments. As shown, there is a lot going on behind the scenes with flying. Training, classes, meetings, yes usually you are paid for all this. But, watching one of my guys that got hired as a flight medic, I appreciate my time off and the job vs. money factor isn't worth it to me. Yeah he's making starting RN wages but, he is putting a lot of time in to qualify for a part time job. And......... just off the top of my head. Within 100 miles of my home, there are at least 20 helicopters. This leads to heavy competition for those spots. Critical Care ground transport might be an option.

Flight or CCT Paramedic might be an option to consider especially if the OP could make the same as an RN with just the Paramedic cert.A 4 year college degree would not be needed. In Most states you can be an EMT and Paramedic in a year. You can do RSI and IO with just s cert. Many ground CCTs with hire new Paramedics if they take the 2 week UMBC CCEMTP course. Some Paramedic schools are even attaching it to their training for easy financing. Then after a couple years on a CCT truck you could easily apply for Flight. You wouldn't have to worry about getting over 5 years in all the ICUs or do all the RN certs. Might be a better option and easier route for the OP to forget RN. Less than 3 years to being on flight sounds better than 10 years and you can still do all the cool stuff.