What is a Flight Nurse?

What is a flight nurse? These nurses provide critical care to patients during air transport, whether by helicopter or airplane.

Flight nurses are a key component of a medical team that manages patients’ care while they’re being transported to medical facilities. This article explores flight nurses’ duties, work environments, types of shifts, and the kinds of emergencies they handle.

What does a flight nurse do?

Flight nurses provide advanced medical care to patients during air transport. They work in high-pressure environments, often dealing with critically ill or injured individuals. Their responsibilities include:

Stabilizing patients: Administering emergency medical treatments to stabilize patients during transport
Monitoring patients’ status: Frequently checking patients’ vital signs and medical conditions
Administering medications: Giving necessary medications and treatments as required
Communicating with medical teams: Coordinating with ground and receiving medical teams to ensure continuity of care
Documenting patient care: Maintaining accurate and detailed records of the care provided during transport

Types of shifts flight nurses work

Flight nurses work a variety of shifts, which can include:

12-hour shifts: These are common in many medical transport services, allowing for adequate coverage.
24-hour shifts: Some flight nurses work extended shifts, often followed by several days off.
On-call rotations: Flight nurses may need to be ready to respond to emergencies.

The nature of their work means that flight nurses must be prepared for irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Working on helicopters and other aircraft

Flight nurses work on both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, including:

Helicopters

Helicopters are often used for rapid response to emergencies and transporting patients from accident scenes to hospitals.
Nurses must be adept at providing care in tight, confined spaces.
Helicopters are typically used for shorter flights within the same state or region.

Fixed-wing aircraft

These aircraft are used for transporting patients over longer distances, including across state lines or internationally.
Generally, there is more room to work compared to helicopters, allowing for more equipment and staff.
Fixed-wing aircraft are often equipped with advanced medical technology to handle long flights.

Who hires flight nurses?

Flight nurses are employed by:

Air ambulance services: These companies specialize in medical transport.
Hospitals: Some hospitals have their own air transport services.
Government agencies: Agencies such as the military and national health services employ flight nurses for medical evacuations and disaster response.
Private corporations: Large corporations with remote operations might employ flight nurses for emergency evacuations.

Types of emergencies that flight nurses encounter

Flight nurses respond to a wide range of emergency situations, including:

Accident scenes: Providing immediate care at the site of car crashes, industrial accidents, and other trauma incidents
Natural disasters: Assisting in evacuation and providing medical care during events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods
Remote locations: Transporting patients from remote or rural areas to advanced medical facilities
Medical emergencies: Responding to critical medical conditions that require rapid intervention and transport

On any given day, flight nurses can be called to treat:

Traumatic injuries: Severe injuries from accidents, including fractures, head trauma, and internal bleeding
Cardiac emergencies: Heart attacks, arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular issues requiring urgent intervention
Respiratory distress: Conditions like severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute respiratory failure
Neurological emergencies: Strokes, seizures, and other critical neurological conditions
Burns: Severe burns requiring specialized care and rapid transport to burn centers

Flight nurses often travel across state lines to transport patients to specialized medical facilities. This requires flight nurses to know different state regulations and protocols and be able to coordinate care across long distances.

In some cases, flight nurses may also be involved in international medical transports, further expanding the scope and complexity of their work.

Training and qualifications

Becoming a flight nurse requires specialized training and qualifications. Here are the typical steps involved:

Become a registered nurse (RN): The first step is to become a licensed RN by completing an accredited nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Earn a degree: Many flight nurses earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Gain clinical experience: Flight nurses need several years of experience in critical care or emergency nursing to develop their skills.
Pursue certification: Flight nurses often pursue specialized certifications, such as Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), or Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), to add to their skill set and expertise. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) certification are also must-haves for flight nurses.

The life of a flight nurse

A day in the life of a flight nurse can vary widely depending on the nature of their work and the calls they receive. It can include:

Preparing for flights: Ensuring all medical equipment and supplies are ready and fully stocked
Briefing and debriefing: Participating in preflight briefings and postflight debriefings with the medical team.
Patient transport: Providing continuous care during transport, from the initial pick-up to the handover at the receiving medical facility.
Training and drills: Regularly participating in training exercises and drills to stay prepared for all types of emergencies.

So, what is a flight nurse? They are specialized nurses and healthcare professionals who provide critical care during air transport. Flight nursing is a high-pressure, physically demanding job, and caring for critically ill or injured patients in mid-flight can take an emotional toll on caregivers.

But it’s also a rewarding and exciting career. The job offers a dynamic and ever-changing work environment. From trauma scenes to medical crises, flight nurses make sure patients receive the care they need — when they need it most.