Flight Nursing is an exciting and
unique job related to the field of nursing. The basic mission of
the Flight Nurse is to transport a patient from an accident scene
to a medical facility or from one facility to another. Nurses’
work under the direction of a physician 
acting as their eyes,
ears, and hands while at the scene and during transport. Patients
that may be transported range from neonates to older adults.
During transport the RN must continuously assess and, monitor any
changes that may occur and to intervene in the event of
complications. According to the ASTNA the goal of air medical
transport services is “to provide safe and efficient transfer of
patients while maintaining or improving the level of care.”
Practice Standards for Flight Nursing state the flight nurse
"Shall meet specified qualifications prior to assuming the
independent role of the Flight Nurse" and "shall
implement nursing care based on current scientific knowledge and
within her training and scope of practice." So what are those
requirements?
Common
requirements include:
(but are not limited to)
- License as a registered nurse
- 2-3 years critical care
experience and/or
- 2-3 years of emergency
department experience
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
certificate (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
certificate (PALS)
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