Flight Nurse

The Flight Nurse is a registered nurse and critical care transport clinician who provides safe, autonomous, evidence-based care to critically ill or injured patients across the lifespan. As part of an interdisciplinary transport team, the Flight Nurse assesses, stabilizes, treats, monitors, and transports patients by rotor-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft when assigned, and ground critical care ambulance. Care is provided within applicable law, nursing licensure, Pafford Medical Services, Inc. policies and clinical guidelines, the program’s scope of care, and medical direction.

Responsibilities

Provide safe, autonomous, evidence-based care to critically ill or injured patients across the lifespan; Assess, stabilize, treat, monitor, and transport patients by rotor-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft, and ground critical care ambulance; Review transport requests, assess patients, identify transport risks, and develop individualized plans of care; Manage advanced airways, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, infusion therapy, vasoactive and sedative medications, blood products, drains, tubes, and other critical care therapies; Participate in mission briefings, risk assessment, crew resource management, and debriefing; Perform equipment, medication, oxygen, battery, and supply checks and maintain mission readiness; Coordinate effectively with pilots, communications personnel, EMS, fire and law enforcement agencies, and receiving facilities; Complete accurate and timely patient care records, medication documentation, equipment records, and operational reports; Participate in quality management, case review, peer review, safety reporting, performance improvement, and clinical investigation; Maintain required licenses, certifications, continuing education, clinical currency, skills validation, and annual competencies

Requirements

Current unrestricted registered nurse license in each state required for assignment and patient transport; Additional state licensure obtained within the timeframe established by Pafford Medical Services, Inc.; At least three years and 4,000 hours of recent critical care experience in an intensive care unit or emergency department; Current American Heart Association BLS and ACLS credentials; Current PALS, APLS, or ENPC credential appropriate to the program's pediatric scope of care; Current NRP credential when assigned to high-risk obstetric or neonatal patients; Current trauma education appropriate to the role and program scope such as ATCN, TNATC, TPATC, ATLS audit, or approved equivalent; CFRN or CTRN certification obtained and maintained within two years of employment in the transport nurse role; Successful completion of pre-employment screening, clinical knowledge and skills evaluation, orientation, and competency validation; Valid driver's license and ability to meet company vehicle-operation requirements when driving is assigned; Advanced assessment, critical thinking, prioritization, and independent decision-making in resource-limited and rapidly changing environments; Competence in critical care pharmacology, airway and ventilator management, hemodynamics, shock and resuscitation, trauma, neurologic and obstetric emergencies, and age-specific care within the program's scope; Ability to communicate concisely by radio, telephone, electronic systems, and in person, including structured handoffs and professional conflict resolution; Ability to organize competing priorities, maintain situational awareness, and work effectively as part of a two-clinician transport team; Basic computer proficiency and ability to use electronic patient care, communication, inventory, and learning-management systems; Physical ability to perform essential functions in confined aircraft and ambulance spaces and lift/move up to 50 pounds independently, assisting with heavier patients using team-lift techniques; Ability to tolerate vibration, turbulence, motion, altitude-related pressure changes, temperature extremes, weather exposure, noise, limited lighting, and required protective and aviation safety equipment; Ability to work rotating or extended shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, call periods, travel, and mission-related overtime

Nice to have

Bachelor of Science in Nursing; CFRN or CTRN certification at hire; Additional credentials such as CCRN, CEN, CPEN, or C-NPT; Previous critical care transport, flight nursing, EMS, or prehospital experience; Experience in a Level I or II trauma center, tertiary referral center, or comparable high-acuity setting