Flight nurses, also known as transport nurses, are registered nurses that are trained to provide medical care as they transport patients in either rotor (helicopter) or fixed-wing (plane) aircraft.
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Upon World War II the nurses left the airlines and joined the military. The airlines then hired young women to take over. By now the name of the stewardess had changed to reflect both genders and are now called flight attendants.
Most flight nurses work two 24-hour shifts per week. They must be on-call for those 48 hours to respond when patients need them at a moment's notice. Some professionals spend their off-hours continuing education courses or working second jobs in healthcare.
A flight nurse cares for critically ill patients in a helicopter or plane as they're being transported from the scene of an accident or from one medical facility to another.
With the right education, training, and skills, you can take your career to the skies and become a Flight Nurse. Flight nursing is a highly competitive specialty in the nursing field.
Flight Nurse Height & Weight RequirementsMust be able to pass pre-placement physical exam including functional capacity exam (strength and flexibility assessment, including being able to lift up to 100 pounds), drug screening and background screen. Must maintain body weight below 215 lbs.
Intubation is a vital skill performed by flight nurses and paramedics. Before flight training, nurses do not routinely intubate and must be trained in proper techniques.
Travel nurses are not trained to work on an aircraft. They also may not have the emergency medical services training that a flight nurse has. Depending on the job requirements, some travel nurses may be LPNs or allied health professionals. The assignments for travel nurses vary in length.