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 when assigned, and ground critical care ambulance; Review transport requests and available records; develop individualized plans of care; Continuously monitor the patient, recognize deterioration, anticipate complications, and initiate timely interventions or medical control consultation; Manage advanced airways and mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, infusion therapy, vasoactive and sedative medications, blood products, drains, tubes, and other authorized critical care therapies; Participate in mission briefings, risk assessment, crew resource management, and debriefing; Perform equipment, medication, oxygen, battery, and supply checks; secure patients and equipment; maintain mission readiness; Complete accurate and timely patient care records and required operational reports; Participate in quality management, case review, peer review, safety reporting, and performance improvement; Protect patient privacy and comply with documentation, billing, regulatory, and accreditation requirements; Successfully complete initial orientation, clinical validation, transport safety training, and competency requirements; 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 must be obtained within the timeframe established by Pafford Medical Services, Inc.; At least three years and a minimum of 4,000 hours of recent critical care experience in an intensive care unit or emergency department relevant to the program's scope of care and patient populations; 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 an approved equivalent; CFRN or CTRN certification must be 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; provide structured handoffs; and resolve conflict professionally; 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.

Nice to have

Bachelor of Science in Nursing; CFRN or CTRN certification at hire; additional credentials such as CCRN, CEN, CPEN, or C-NPT consistent with assigned patient populations; 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.