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Flight RN

03RN

Brown Coat

Joined Jul 2015
Posts 17900
EE 100% (78)

RI, USA

Posted: 9/24/2018 10:14:51 AM EDT

I'm interested in a change of pace. I'm thinking I need a more active job that's outside more. Over a year in psych and I just feel like I have cabin fever. The 10 years before nursing I was a commercial lobsterman and before that, infantry.

I'm afraid I just don't have the medical needed to be taken seriously. I do have a couple years of heavy helo use from being in the Helo company on a MEU SOC and in deployment workups.

Are certificates needed up front? Or can they be gotten after highering?

"If you cant do something smart, do something right"

jcast141

Team Member

Joined Aug 2006
Posts 2456
EE 100% (72)

FL, USA

Posted: 9/24/2018 11:49:32 AM EDT

[#1]

Depending on what type of flying you’re talking about can change things.

Helicopter EMS systems look for 2-5 years of ICU/CCU/ER experience as you’re dealing with assorted drips, pumps, IABP, etc on critical care transfers. Usually require the RN to also be a Medic (take EMT and then challenge the Paramedic test), and have certificates up front.

Fixed wing tend to be a little more relaxed on this at least in my area and certainly can be acquired while working and as you gain experience in that subset, they’re better able to tailor the nurses to the flights they get than an EMS style service.

"A man who does not exercise his rights has no advantage over a man who has no rights."

KILLERB6 Many talk of war; few buckle armor. Joined Jan 2002 Posts 39670 EE 100% (6) AFG	Posted: 9/24/2018 1:42:08 PM EDT [#2] Anecdotal experience from friends: they first spent a lot of time in the ER/ICU...because the helo is a flying ER.
	"I'll tell you what war is about, you've got to kill people, and when you've killed enough they stop fighting." GEN Curtis LeMay "Someday this war's gonna end..." LTC William Kilgore

BigeasySnow

Disgusting and Insensitive

Joined Jul 2008
Posts 66935
EE 0% (0)

LA, USA

Posted: 9/24/2018 2:32:26 PM EDT

[#3]

Originally Posted By 03RN:
I'm interested in a change of pace. I'm thinking I need a more active job that's outside more. Over a year in psych and I just feel like I have cabin fever. The 10 years before nursing I was a commercial lobsterman and before that, infantry.

I'm afraid I just don't have the medical needed to be taken seriously. I do have a couple years of heavy helo use from being in the Helo company on a MEU SOC and in deployment workups.

Are certificates needed up front? Or can they be gotten after highering?

View Quote

From psych to flight? Isn’t that skipping an icu/er step, to say the least?

She thinks all men should look like a hulking centaur 'roid bear. -Andrew_Henry

03RN Brown Coat Joined Jul 2015 Posts 17901 EE 100% (78) RI, USA	Posted: 9/24/2018 6:25:53 PM EDT [#4] Quote History Originally Posted By BigeasySnow: From psych to flight? Isn’t that skipping an icu/er step, to say the least? View Quote That's why I was asking. If I need to go ER first then I'll look in that direction first.
	"If you cant do something smart, do something right"

03RN

Brown Coat

Joined Jul 2015
Posts 17902
EE 100% (78)

RI, USA

Posted: 9/24/2018 6:32:27 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Originally Posted By jcast141:
Depending on what type of flying you’re talking about can change things.

Helicopter EMS systems look for 2-5 years of ICU/CCU/ER experience as you’re dealing with assorted drips, pumps, IABP, etc on critical care transfers. Usually require the RN to also be a Medic (take EMT and then challenge the Paramedic test), and have certificates up front.

Fixed wing tend to be a little more relaxed on this at least in my area and certainly can be acquired while working and as you gain experience in that subset, they’re better able to tailor the nurses to the flights they get than an EMS style service.

View Quote

Thanks

"If you cant do something smart, do something right"

medicmandan

Member

Joined Jun 2002
Posts 26492
EE 100% (20)

UT, USA

Posted: 9/24/2018 11:49:00 PM EDT

[#6]

My hospital looks for 3 years ICU, 2 years ED. CFRN within 12 months of hire but would be a plus if you came with it. They do not require RNs to be Paramedics but a few are.

We are transferring sicker and sicker patients these days. I think they flew a doc out a few months ago to start ECMO on a patient so they could transfer from the community hospital. Huge increase in MCS flights.

MK262 Life in the slow lane Joined Nov 2008 Posts 19380 EE 100% (2) USA	Posted: 9/24/2018 11:59:03 PM EDT [#7] You should become a certified CCT nurse if you want to do flight, which would likely require ICU and / or ER experience.
	"The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools." -- Thucydides

AGW Pay no mind to the distant thunder Joined Nov 2004 Posts 9929 EE 100% (5) AZ, USA	Posted: 9/27/2018 1:18:18 AM EDT [#8] To add to whats already been said, not all ER or ICU experience is equal. Flight companies will be looking for experience in level 1 centers, not critical access hospitals with 10-bed ERs and 8-bed "ICUs".

King_Mud

Member

Joined Sep 2008
Posts 11833
EE 100% (174)

OK, USA

Posted: 9/27/2018 2:29:45 PM EDT

[Last Edit: King_Mud] [#9]

Quote History

Originally Posted By AGW:
To add to whats already been said, not all ER or ICU experience is equal. Flight companies will be looking for experience in level 1 centers, not critical access hospitals with 10-bed ERs and 8-bed "ICUs".

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Originally Posted By AGW:
To add to whats already been said, not all ER or ICU experience is equal. Flight companies will be looking for experience in level 1 centers, not critical access hospitals with 10-bed ERs and 8-bed "ICUs".

I don't know about nursing but I know the medics have to show experience in a busy service, you could have 20 years field experience but if it isn't one with a large call volume it doesn't count.

ETA: From Air Evac's job listing for nurses:

Certifications /Skills

EMT Certification: must be maintained after acquired for employment.
• Arkansas requires prior to hire an Arkansas EMT Certification
• Illinois requires TNCC and or TNS within 6 months of hire date
• Tennessee requires TN EMT Certification within 12 months of hire date
• Texas requires EMT Certification within 90 days after first RN to EMT class after hire date
Advanced Certifications must be maintained for employment.
• CEN or CCRN or CFRN is required within 24 months from date of hire.
• Tennessee requires CEN or CCRN or CFRN within 12 months of hire date
• PHTLS or ITLS, NRP, BLS, ACLS, and PALS or PEPP completed prior to flight status and maintained for employment
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret health and flight-related journals, patient charts, and job specific legal documents
• Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community
• Ability to perform mathematical functions for drug calculations and age specific medication management
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables

Experience
• Three years of ER/Adult Critical Care Nursing experience

03RN Brown Coat Joined Jul 2015 Posts 17945 EE 100% (78) RI, USA	Posted: 9/27/2018 7:00:46 PM EDT [#10] Thanks everyone. Might take longer than I thought.
	"If you cant do something smart, do something right"

1bamashooter Saving diseases and stomping out lives Joined Feb 2007 Posts 3308 EE 100% (3) AL, USA	Posted: 9/30/2018 12:41:28 AM EDT [#11] Like others have said get all the alphabet soup by your name u can get. Find a job in a busy ER and TSICU then ask the different services for applications good luck!
	I've done so much with so little for so long, I can do anything with nothing.

EvanWilliams NorCal_LEO Call Sign "Cans" Joined Nov 2009 Posts 56549 EE 100% (1) TX, USA	Posted: 10/27/2018 7:49:12 PM EDT [#12] I was an ICU and ER nurse. If you have a family, don’t do flight. Also, it used to be they took small female RNs to keep weight down. But my buddy was a flight RN and he is a big dude
	"The more posts by EvanWilliams I read, the less I am impressed by him. I'm pretty sure he's a habitual liar, or at the very least, a very bad braggart." Beltfedleadhead Team Ranstad--Tenn Squire

bagofcrabs65

Nurses Need more Guns

Joined Jan 2013
Posts 29459
EE 100% (7)

OH, USA

Posted: 12/17/2018 9:20:05 AM EDT

[#13]

I am interested in going this route as well.

I will graduate nursing school this spring and I have gathered the following info concerning a flight job.(for southwest Ohio)

-BSN preferred
-2 to 5 years ICU/ER(for us, that means time in the trauma bay with really sick patients)
-paramedic with approval/licensing to work in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio.
-fit the team

I have been asking a lot of people what I need to do...because I know I have time between graduation and earning a spot on a flight team...

And it seems to be similar info...get the paramedic done...get the ER/ICU time...and get to know the team.

Let me know how it goes for you.

Take the guns first, go through due process second. ~ Donald J Trump

BigeasySnow

Disgusting and Insensitive

Joined Jul 2008
Posts 68126
EE 0% (0)

LA, USA

Posted: 12/17/2018 12:16:17 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Originally Posted By EvanWilliams:
I was an ICU and ER nurse. If you have a family, don’t do flight.
Also, it used to be they took small female RNs to keep weight down. But my buddy was a flight RN and he is a big dude

View Quote

I read that despite the tiny female tradition, today, they prefer someone who can lift patients without needing five other tiny nurses to help.

She thinks all men should look like a hulking centaur 'roid bear. -Andrew_Henry

Flight RN

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