’)If you’re looking for an adrenaline-charged career in the medical profession, consider becoming a flight nurse. Flight nurses take charge of treating individuals in grave situations, attending patients who are critically ill or injured. Often, flight nurses are working in highly-charged, emotional environments. Therefore, the ability to stay calm under pressure is paramount.
Opportunities for flight nurses are on the rise. In fact, flight nursing is considered to be one of the top 10 nursing careers today. If you have what it takes to get into the heat of the action, read on to see how you can get into this exciting career.
Keep in mind that a typical day for a flight nurse is anything but routine. Because they often work as part of a critical care team, nurses in this specialty area may find themselves caring for injured hikers alongside a snowy mountain or giving life-saving care to earthquake victims miles away from the nearest hospital. If you’re ready to save lives in hectic situations, a career in flight nursing may be for you.
What are the Requirements to Become a Flight Nurse?
While requirements differ from state to state, most flight nurse programs required advanced experience. Most programs hire registered nurses with a minimum of three years’ critical care or emergency room experience.
Additionally, depending on the program, you may be required to earn these certifications:
• EMT Certification and/or EMT-Paramedic Certification
• Advanced Burn Life Support
• Pediatric/Neonatal Advanced Life Support
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Other certifications may be required, as well.
How Much Does a Flight Nurse Earn?
Salaries vary, depending on the program; however, the median salary range is about $60,000. In some states, the pay is as much as $20,000 higher. Some programs add hazard pay to the base salary, bringing the median pay higher than average. If you’re interested in becoming a flight nurse, your best bet is to check into specific programs to see what they pay.
I’m Interested. How Do I Get Started?
The first step is to enroll in an accredited RN program. Even if you already have a career, you can take classes online. The advantage to online learning is that instead of going to college, the college brings your education to you. While you will still have to adhere to due dates, you can do your work at a time of day when you’re most productive.
Do your homework before enrolling into any online program. Make sure that the program is accredited and will lead to a “real” degree. While most programs are legit, you can avoid falling prey to a diploma mill by checking out the credibility of the program through the U.S. Department of Education website. A list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies is available on their website. Diploma mills will often list fake accrediting agencies on their websites, so check out any program before you apply.
Flight nursing is an excellent opportunity for individuals who want to save lives in tense, often chaotic, situations. If you’re ready to take to the skies and save lives, there’s no better time than now to get started.
