What does a Flight Nurse do?
Published 3 min read
A flight nurse is a registered nurse who provides medical care to patients in transit by airplane. They are responsible for the assessment, stabilization, and management of ill or injured patients during air medical transport.
Flight Nurse job duties include:
- Assesses patients before and after flights to ensure stability and appropriateness for transport
- Communicates with receiving medical staff about patient status and needs
- Monitors and treats patients during transport, providing care within the scope of practice
- Manages medications and other treatments during transport according to protocols
- Maintains accurate patient records and documentation during and after transport
- Performs quality assurance checks on equipment and supplies before and after each transport
- Participates in regularly scheduled team meetings to discuss cases and review best practices
- Maintains a high level of knowledge about current standards of care for critical care transport
- Attends continuing education courses to keep skills current
- Serves as a resource for other nurses and health care professionals regarding critical care transport
Flight Nurse Job Requirements
To work as a flight nurse, you will need at least a bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited school. You will also need to be licensed as a registered nurse in the state where you will be working. You will need to have at least two years of experience working in a critical care setting, such as an intensive care unit or emergency room. You will also need to be certified in CPR and have a valid driver's license.
Flight Nurse Skills
- Multitasking
- Critical thinking
- Quick decision making
- Excellent communication
- Able to work well under pressure
- Physically fit
- Detail oriented
- Calm under pressure
- Able to think on your feet
- Problem solving skills
- Able to work independently
Related: Top Flight Nurse Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Flight Nurse
The first step to becoming a flight nurse is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school. Once you have your degree, you will need to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN). After you have obtained your RN license, you will need to complete a certification program specifically for flight nurses. These programs are typically offered by hospitals or medical centers that have their own air ambulance services.
Once you have completed a certification program, you will be able to apply for positions with air ambulance services. Flight nurses typically work on a rotating schedule, which means that they may work days, nights, weekends, and holidays. They also often work long hours, so it is important that they are able to maintain a high level of physical and mental stamina.
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