What am I missing?

Dobi · May 28, 2017

Your resume looks good to me. If you wish to work for a program that responds to scene calls than take an EMT course and gain some pre hospital experience. You would be surprised at all the knowledge you'd gain regarding scene management and pre hospital operations. Depending on the state the nurse must have TNCC and/or PHTLS. Do some volunteer work. Learn the fire department structure. But this advice only applies if you are looking into a program that does scene response.

Rotor wing positions are competitive, you need to sell yourself. Why should they hire you and not a 120 lb nurse which will increase the service the helicopter can provide? A heavier crew will limit the service provided by decreasing allowable patient weight as well as balancing the aircraft. It may sound callous but you need to drop the weight. The majority of rotor programs have the weight standard for a reason. I have made exceptions in the past for weight limits but for experienced flight members interviewing. It is too competitive with too many qualified applicants to overlook someone else and hire someone who doesn't meet the requirements.

This is only my opinion and my experience. Good luck to you.

harrird · May 29, 2017

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it!

Both my parents were firefighter/medics. My mother was one of the first women in the state. I was an explorer in high school and actually did CPR for the first time in the back of an ambulance at 15 years old. That being said I realize none of that is a substitute for real scene work (which I would love to do). Here's my problem. I work. A lot. From what I can tell I could take a semester class to obtain EMT-B (keep in mind, I've taught EMT-P students for several years now as an ER nurse) but I really don't understand what I would learn driving the truck or administering O2 while taking vital signs for $10/hr.

I would love the opportunity to get some training at the paramedic level, ie intubations - and I've seriously considered flying out to Nebraska for a couple of weeks to take the Creighton program. I would have no problem taking classes on scene management, extrication, etc. But EMT-B seems absolutely pointless to me.

You're absolutely correct on the weight issue. It's important, and something I need to address. 220 is about as light as I could go though. :)

What would your thoughts on the Creighton program be? If I went and got an EMT-P after a couple weeks work? Honestly I would probably be happy to take a pay cut to work some PRN in the field as a medic, I wouldn't want to do it for long but I think 6 months would be ok, and if it allowed me to be a better resource or give me a better shot at landing a flight job it would totally be worth it. Free time is just very valuable to me right now, and I would want it to mean something when I applied.

Dobi · Jun 1, 2017

The EMT-Basic is a requirement to become a Paramedic. I am unaware of any state that will allow you to obtain a Paramedic License/Certification without the foundational knowledge put forth in EMT school. EMT school will give you the education your resume is lacking (Ambulance operations, Scene management and safety, HAZMAT). The helicopter is licensed as an air "Ambulance", so it'd behoove you to gain an entry level knowledge of operations. Learning to communicate on multiple bands with multiple agencies. Your opinion of EMT's is much the same that EMT's have of nurses predicated on a lack of knowledge of what the others job entails. While you may be a fantastic ER nurse with the hospital amenities and all the backup at your disposal; it is a different animal at 2AM, with only 1 other person on the side of the road to help.

I do not think obtaining your paramedic certification would be a benefit to you. The medical education you received in nursing school vastly outweighs that of paramedic school. Any decent flight program will prepare you for airway management and live intubations prior to you becoming a fully qualified crew member.

A few states have a PHRN (pre hospital RN) licensure. Obtaining this would allow you to function at the ALS level without paramedic school. Look into ground critical care providers in your area. This is another option to break into the field and gain some experience doing transport. These are only my opinions and so many options exist. Hope this helps, good luck to you.

TranquilSpirit · Jun 13, 2017

I don't think your resume is missing anything. You're as qualified as you need to be. Honestly, more qualified than me and I just got my first position. With that said, regarding weight, Air Methods, the largest rotor wing company, they (along with their associate companies) may be more flexible on weight limits. They fly larger aircraft. Air Evac, however, flies Bell 206 helicopters mostly. They are pretty strict with 220 pound limits because these are smaller and not as powerful. So I guess it depends on who you're flying with. I am 6'1, and don't have an issue with height. I'd be extremely uncomfortable being too much heavier than I am., though.

One thing I'd look into if you don't get a position when you apply initially, look at doing ground transport. Ground, at least in my area, has been expanding considerably with their RN usage. Well crewed ground teams do everything and more that flight will do. Someone has to take them when the helicopters can't. That's ground. I'll still be doing ground even with the flight position.

PeeWeeQ, ADN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 14, 2017

Just looking around here as I am hoping to be a flight nurse in the future as well. I have a ways to go since I just got on the waiting list for the RN program at our local tech school. That said, I am a certified Firefighter II (13 years of experience) and I have been an EMT-B and an Army Medic since 2008. Before I retired from the NG in 2015, I was an AAMED instructor for 3 years.

My sister is an RN and she thought the same thing--she wanted to do some time on an ambulance, but, she didn't think she needed any EMS experience or her EMT-B since she was already an RN and had done time in the ER/ED. She did take my advice and got her EMT-B, but, it was only then that she realized that pre-hospital and ER work are two COMPLETELY different things. Trust me, depending on your area and support level, you can gain valuable experience doing a heck of a lot more than just administering O2 and taking vital signs...

heinz57 · Jul 15, 2017

It is not so much the training of EMT or Paramedic but the need to hold one of these certs to satisfy outdated transport regulations in some states which are controlled by EMS regulatory boards. Some states say to participate in any out of hospital transport especially scene response, you must have one of these certs. It is a very territorial industry. You should hear the negative comments in places which use an ER or Trauma doctor on transports. "ER doctors should stay in the ER!" and that goes double for nurses.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 7, 2017

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it!
Both my parents were firefighter/medics. My mother was one of the first women in the state. I was an explorer in high school and actually did CPR for the first time in the back of an ambulance at 15 years old. That being said I realize none of that is a substitute for real scene work (which I would love to do). Here's my problem. I work. A lot. From what I can tell I could take a semester class to obtain EMT-B (keep in mind, I've taught EMT-P students for several years now as an ER nurse) but I really don't understand what I would learn driving the truck or administering O2 while taking vital signs for $10/hr.
I would love the opportunity to get some training at the paramedic level, ie intubations - and I've seriously considered flying out to Nebraska for a couple of weeks to take the Creighton program. I would have no problem taking classes on scene management, extrication, etc. But EMT-B seems absolutely pointless to me.
You're absolutely correct on the weight issue. It's important, and something I need to address. 220 is about as light as I could go though. :)
What would your thoughts on the Creighton program be? If I went and got an EMT-P after a couple weeks work? Honestly I would probably be happy to take a pay cut to work some PRN in the field as a medic, I wouldn't want to do it for long but I think 6 months would be ok, and if it allowed me to be a better resource or give me a better shot at landing a flight job it would totally be worth it. Free time is just very valuable to me right now, and I would want it to mean something when I applied.

The problem might be that you don't see the value that EMS experience would bring you, and yes, even as an EMT basic!

Take it from someone who has worked in both fields, they are two different ball games, and you are missing vital pre-hospital experience. Nursing, in my opinion, at least in the hospital is lacking in autonomy and that may be a concern. In the helicopter there is no doctor to tell you what to do (well, except maybe over the phone, but that is by what your assessment is, not his/hers).

Don't think being an EMT basic is beneath you, because that sounds a little cocky to me. Go get your EMTB and do some work on an ambulance and do some learning with regards to the out of hospital environment first, and then go get your paramedic license once you have some BLS experience. I think this would help you a lot!!

Annie

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2017

I know the thread is older but in my area, the weight limit is usually around 215-230. It is usually 220.

flightnurse216 · Mar 3, 2018

Your issue is the 220. We fly an EC135 and our limit is 220. Being that is our limit, we wont hire someone at 220, unless they are just stellar and we cannot find better. The other thing VERY important is how we are weighed. Per CAMTS, you must weigh in fully suited. That includes all your gear, suit and helmet. We weigh in monthly in street clothes and then add 10lbs to that as our flight weight. To be considered for the majority of rotor programs, I think its safe to say you would need to be 199lbs to not raise eyes on paper.

medic9872 · Nov 14, 2018

I have to agree with the others who said that you should get your EMT-B and get some field experience. My mom is a paramedic and many of my relatives were firefighters, but their experience doesn't translate to you. I like to say that I "grew up" in EMS because I vividly remember reading my mom's paramedic books (and getting in trouble for bringing them to school lol) and her learning patient assessment on me and my brothers. I also remember visiting her at work many times and being in awe of everything. I was also an avid ER fan, which made me want to be an ER nurse. My point is that all of those things are great and they make for a good story in an interview, but they mean nothing when it comes to your work experience. ER and ICU nursing is completely different from EMS. ER is much closer in terms of how you work (find and fix the problems, send them on to definitive care), but EMS is its own monster. You could likely pass the paramedic bridge course but I don't think it would help you. You need field work, not another certification or license. Something that could be very beneficial would be becoming an instructor in ACLS, PALS, BLS, etc. Most flight programs do a lot of training and community outreach and they love to have instructors as a part of their crew. If I were you, I would do the EMT-B and get instructor status in some of those alphabet courses (especially BLS). Good luck to you!

RickyRescueRN, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2018

Been a while since I checked in on this site, but here goes. I think you are well prepared already for a flight RN position. Contrary to popular belief, there are literally hundreds of vacancies for flight RNs around the country. You have 5 years ICU experience as well as ED experience and from what I read have all the certs that are needed to apply for a job. I think you just need to apply. Find out about any local flight programs and perhaps schedule a Fly Along opportunity with them Many flight programs often use these opportunities as an "informal interview" to see if your personality would fit their team . Most programs will expect you to get your Neonatal resuscitation provider (NRP) and Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC through ASTNA) within the 1st 6months of employment so these are not hiring requirements in most places. While your weight might be a bit of hitch with flight programs that fly small single engine helicopters , it would not be a problem for a career with a Fixed wing flight program or those who fly big helicopters. As someone who has been a flight nurse for the most part of my 22 year career as a RN, I would highly encourage you to also become an active member of of the Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) and to attend the various national conferences where you will have the opportunity to meet with other RN's and also program managers of transport programs and network with them. Many of the big corporate Flight companies such as AirMethods, MedTrans, PHI etc have many vacancies posted around the country , while the hospital based operations have fewer vacancies as they typically pay higher salaries etc. Wishing you well on your journey.