Flight nurses provide care to patients in need of transport to medical facilities, and becoming one entails earning a nursing degree, then gaining experience and certifications relating to emergency care. Mercer University’s ABSN track can help provide the foundation for a successful flight nursing career.
Picture this: A patient in critical condition is being transported via helicopter or plane to a hospital. You and your colleagues are responsible for managing the situation and keeping them stable until they can access lifesaving care. This is the role of a flight nurse. These professionals work in one of the most high-intensity specializations in nursing and regularly save lives in a fast-paced environment. If you thrive in fast-paced, hands-on care environments, a career in flight nursing may be a great fit for you.
What are the requirements for becoming a flight nurse, and how can you pursue a career in this area of nursing? Consider the world of flight nursing, explore the career pathway to this role, and consider how Mercer University’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing track can provide an excellent foundation for any number of nursing practice areas.
What Is a Flight Nurse? Understanding the Role of a Flight RN
As their primary responsibility, flight nurses provide critical care to patients being transported in aircraft. These professionals also work alongside a small crew to meet multiple responsibilities. Flight nurses can work in a range of settings and organizations, and their impact on patient care is profound.
Defining Flight Nursing
Flight nurses are experienced emergency nurses who apply their skills to meet challenging patient care scenarios during air transport in helicopters or airplanes. They care for patients being transported to medical facilities or trauma centers and work with various organizations, including hospitals, fire departments, government agencies, or even the military. Flight nurses work within teams transporting patients, and the size of the team is often small. Their colleagues include pilots, paramedics, and potentially fellow flight nurses.
The Role of a Flight Care Nurse: Key Duties and Responsibilities
Flight nurses are involved in cases where patients need medical attention and must be transported. This can involve going from one medical facility to another or search and rescue for someone injured in a remote location. Patients are often in critical condition, so flight nurses need to rapidly address a range of care scenarios with little backup. This can include procedures like intubation, administering medications, or even more drastic interventions, depending on the situation.
Requirements for Becoming a Flight Nurse: The Step-By-Step Guide
Becoming a flight nurse requires experience due to the high level of expertise required. It requires commitment and experience, but the path to this specialty is achievable for dedicated individuals.
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Requirements for a Flight Nurse
Flight nurses must be licensed, registered nurses, and the majority of employers will not hire someone without a BSN degree or higher. Several years of clinical experience is also a must, with the emergency room and ICU as the most commonly applicable practice areas. Lastly, certifications in areas like emergency nursing are often required.
The Path from ABSN to Flight RN
As a Mercer ABSN track student, you can earn a BSN degree and begin gaining clinical experience sooner than through a traditional four-year program. Our 12-month curriculum blends online-based coursework with in-person labs and clinical rotations. Clinical rotations at top area healthcare facilities in Metro Atlanta will expose you to a range of nursing specialties, and you can often make professional connections that can help get your career off on the right foot. After gaining bedside experience and certifications, you can begin searching for flight nursing opportunities.
The Benefits of Being a Flight Nurse
Flight nursing is a high-pressure job, and those who thrive in that environment will likely be satisfied. Loving aviation and aircraft can also mean your workspace is a place you enjoy, and there are plenty of opportunities in both urban and rural areas to meet your lifestyle.
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Is Flight Nursing Worth It?
To the patients they save and to those patients’ families and loved ones, flight nursing is an invaluable role. It takes a certain personality type to thrive as a flight nurse. If roles like ICU nurse also appeal to you and you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, contributing to the safe transportation and care of patients can make flight nursing worth it. Additionally, the in-demand nature of the role can open your options if you ever want to relocate.
Flight Nurse Salary Expectations
While there is no specific government data on flight nurse salary information, ZipRecruiter estimates a range of average annual salary figures of $81,984 to $124,256, depending on the state. The wide salary range is due in part to factors like if you are a travel nurse, the organization you are with, and the geographic area you are in.
Career Advancement and Opportunities in Flight Nursing
Flight nurses can advance in their careers, as all flight nurses are expert nurses who are highly adept at administering care in emergencies. The role provides opportunities and support to pursue further certifications, and the connections you make in this role can help you advance into other roles if you ever desire to leave this practice area.
Take The Next Step Toward Your Future Career With Mercer’s ABSN Track
Does flight nursing sound like the type of high-impact job you would like in the nursing field? Regardless of your nursing goals, earning a second bachelor’s degree through Mercer’s ABSN track could be the right foundation for your future career. Contact us today and speak with an enrollment counselor to learn more and start working toward your next chapter.