What Are The Requirements To Be A Flight Nurse

Life Flight indicates the following qualifications for RNs who are interested in flight nursing.

What are the requirements to be a flight nurse. There are a couple different routes you can go if youre looking to become a flight nurse. You can do so by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Some flight nurses get qualified via associate degree programs or certificate nursing programs. RN licensure requires either an ADN or BSN.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in ICUEDTrauma Ability to work autonomously in a confined space with other team members Advanced critical care knowledge including ventilator experience Fitness ability for the. Most flight programs require that the registered nurse have a BSN a minimum of 5 years of experience in critical care or emergency nursing and variety of certifications such as CFRN CTRN CCRN CEN ACLS PALS TNCC NRP and EMT-B. Almost a requirement is experience in Emergency NursingED or trauma unit. For most flight nurse programs the minimum requirements include 3 to 5 years of experience in a.

Some employers may even want their flight nurses to have an MSN degree although that is less common. Experience and certification in these specialized areas are required because the flight nurses must make complex clinical decisions with each mission. Your first option involves finding a nursing program and earning your nursing degree and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses NCLEX-RN. In addition to these flight nurse qualifications also include basic life support certification advanced life support certification and pediatric advanced life support certification.

Training to Become a Flight Nurse The first step on the path to becoming a flight nurse is earning your registered nursing degree. They can then apply for certification as a flight or air transport nurse. Military flight nurses need several weeks of specialized training as well. Since there isnt such thing as flight nurse school college nursing education is the foundation of.

After earning licensure flight nurse candidates must complete 3-5 years of experience as an RN usually in the ICU or ER. How To Become A Flight Nurse Requirements Training Certification Required Education. After completing either a two-year or four-year nursing program you need to pass a state licensing exam. Flight nurse degrees can either be a Bachelors degree or a Masters degree.

Minimum 3 years current critical care experience State RN license Must have license for states served BLS Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers. Alternatively you may also complete an associates. You will need to become a registered nurse in order to serve as a flight nurse. The United States Air Force requires a bachelors degree in nursing as well as proper US.

Many positions also require a nurse to earn a certification such as the Certified Flight Registered Nurse CFRN Critical Care Registered Nurse CCRN or Certified Emergency Nurse CEN. Flight experience can be substituted year for year for the ICUEDTrauma requirement. New graduates are not hired as flight nurses. After graduation you must obtain RN licensure by taking the NCLEX-RN examination in your state.

In some cases these certifications can be obtained within six months to one year of hiring if other requirements are met. Educational Requirements Most potential employers of flight nurses require a 4-year BSN degree. Licensing as an RN is required. A typical flight or transport nurse job description can include any of the following.

Minimum of five 5 years of ICUEDTrauma experience within the last ten 10 years. In addition nurses should have at least one year of clinical experience in critical care. First most flight nurses are expected to earn an MSN or BSN at the least. What are the financial requirements to become a flight nurse.

The first step toward becoming a flight nurse is to become a Registered Nurse earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree BSN from an accredited nursing program. Previous flight experience preferred. You still need the nursing experience required to apply for a flight nurse positions. If all of this sounds discouraging dont despair.

Prior to active flight status all medical personnel must have the following current certifications and must maintain them in a current status. The first step in the process of becoming a flight nurse will be to obtain an Associates Degree in Nursing or ASN through one of the thousands of accredited community colleges and Universities located in the United States. Critical Care nurses are often considered as well. They should also complete a flying class medical examination and a 55-week Commissioned Officer training course.