Flight Nurse Job Description

Use this Flight Nurse job description to attract great candidates or as a guide to writing an outstanding Flight Nurse resume.

In this guide you will learn:

• How to Write a Flight Nurse Job Description
• Duties and Responsibilities of a Flight Nurse
• Requirements and Qualifications of a Flight Nurse
• Education Requirements for a Flight Nurse

A flight nurse’s job is to provide care and treatment of life support and stabilization to chronically or acutely ill and injured patients that are being transported. The flight nurse collaborates with other health team members to provide patient care. They also participate with health team members for problem-solving in area management. If you have always enjoyed plane rides, and always looked wanted a job in the medical field, then this is the perfect job for you.

1. Description Summary of a Flight Nurse

A flight nurse provides high-quality care including assessments and treatments. They utilize the standards and guidelines established by the airline you will be working for. One of their responsibilities is to assess the nature and extent of illness or injury. The assessment is done to establish and prioritize the care needed for safe transport of a critical patient to their final destination. The qualified flight nurse will have to provide care for patients of all different ages in their clinical area. As a flight nurse, you are responsible for carrying out missions and goals to ensure the safety of the patients, making them your highest priority throughout the transport continuum.

2. The responsibilities and duties of a Flight Nurse 

• Evaluate critically ill or injured patients of all age groups (neonatal through adult), provide therapeutic intervention, emergency interventions, and preparation for transport
• Provide patient care within protocols, policies, and guidelines developed
• Assess and detect changes status of patients
• Performed nursing care program for soldiers
• Be able to communicate effectively on how to work with outside institutions, agencies, such as hospitals and EMS
• Know how to plan, organize and position equipment and supplies for use in emergency conditions before, during and after transport.
• Maintain contact with patients, families and referring facility physicians
• Participate in education sessions, surgical skills labs, and maintenance of educational requirements for certifications.
• Obtain and maintain passport for International transports.
• Demonstrated the knowledge of safety procedures

3. Requirements and Qualifications

• Current licensure to practice
• Must have at least five years current staff nursing experience in a critical care/emergency department setting
• Certified Flight Registered Nurse achieved
• Current have Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
• Have a Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Have CPR and First Aid Certification

4. What is Required Educationally 

To become a flight nurse, you need to have graduated from an accredited School of Nursing acquiring a Registered Nurse License. After you have graduated, you need a minimum three year of experience in critical care/emergency nursing experience. You will also need other certification such as BLS, CPR, ACLS, PALS or equivalent Specialty certification (CFRN, CCRN, or CEN).