Flight nursing is a dynamic nursing specialty that requires nurses to deliver life-saving care while in flight. Want to know how to become a flight nurse? First, you must earn a BS in Nursing, obtain a nursing license, earn additional certifications, and gain a few years of clinical experience.
No two days are the same for nurses. Each day brings new patients and challenges, making nursing a dynamic and stimulating field. Flight nursing might be the perfect specialty for those looking for an exciting and meaningful career path, especially if you have a military background.
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program allows students who have already earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Nursing in as few as 16 months. If you are a career changer looking to enter the exciting field of flight nursing, our ABSN can serve as the first step toward accomplishing your goals.
Below, we will explore flight nursing, what these nurses do, and how to become a flight nurse.
What is a Flight Nurse?
Flight nurses are part of a specialized emergency response team that provides life-saving patient care aboard an aircraft. They respond to a wide range of medical emergencies, from patients in critical condition to hospital transfers.
These emergency response teams are called when patients require advanced care and must be quickly transported to a medical facility, are in a location that cannot be reached by ambulance, or both. Some of the most common emergency scenarios include auto accidents and cardiac conditions.
Flight nurses work for various employers, such as hospital emergency departments, city or state governments, air ambulance services, search-and-rescue organizations, and the U.S. military.
What Does a Flight Nurse Do?
Flight nurses are essential members of emergency response teams. They provide critical patient care during transportation and must be adept at calmly navigating high-stress situations. While flight nursing requires you to become a registered nurse, the work you do as a flight nurse differs from that in a traditional setting like a hospital.
Flight nurses must work in small, confined spaces as they stabilize their patients for transport. Flight nurses must also be familiar with the effects of flying, such as altitude-related physiological changes, and be equipped to handle turbulence and other conditions.
Their patient care responsibilities vary depending on the specifics of the scenario but can include any of the following:
- Patient assessment and condition monitoring
- Fluid and medication administration
- Life-saving medical interventions
- Collaboration with on-flight physicians and paramedics
- Accurate recordkeeping
Flight nurses and other team members must also maintain and manage vital healthcare equipment to ensure everything is in working order and prepared for a wide range of emergencies.
Flight Nurse Requirements
If this career sounds exciting, the next step is to learn how to become a flight nurse. Below, we will review the requirements needed to become a flight RN.
Educational Requirements
While there are several pathways toward becoming a nurse, such as earning an associate degree or a bachelor’s, flight nursing isn’t as flexible. Most employers require flight nurses to earn a BS in Nursing.
This is because a BS in Nursing provides students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for various clinical scenarios. Recent studies have indicated that higher proportions of BS in Nursing-educated nurses in a healthcare facility lead to higher rates of positive patient outcomes.
Simply put, students in a BS in nursing program have more time to hone their critical thinking, leadership, and clinical judgment skills. While specifics vary by program, students typically participate in didactic coursework, hands-on simulation labs and in-person nursing clinicals at various healthcare facilities.
After earning a BS in Nursing, you are ready for the nurse licensing exam, the NCLEX. The NCLEX is a comprehensive exam that assesses an applicant’s clinical judgment. Instead of memorizing and recalling nursing concepts, applicants must review clinical scenarios and determine the most appropriate response.
Students should begin preparing for the NCLEX at the start of nursing school. Because of the exam’s unique format, reviewing practice questions throughout your education will ensure you are familiar with the format on exam day. As the test date nears, increase the intensity and frequency of study sessions.
Learn how to prepare for the NCLEX with these 9 NCLEX study tips.
Required Licenses and Certifications
In addition to your nursing license, you will also need to earn your Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) certification. The CFRN is offered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing and prepares applicants to deliver patient care at high altitudes.
Additional required certifications may vary depending on the employer. Below are certifications and courses that, while they might not be required, can strengthen your credentials:
- Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
You may also be required to complete the following trauma programs:
- Trauma Nursing Core Curriculum (TNCC)
- Transport Nurse Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC)
- Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS)
- Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS)
Flight Nurse Qualifications Beyond Education
In addition to the flight nurse qualifications listed above, you must acquire a few years of clinical experience before pursuing a flight nursing position. Entry-level positions in emergency rooms or trauma centers can be an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the type of medical emergencies you’ll face as a flight nurse.
Flight nurses must also possess the following qualities and skills to excel:
- Compassion
- Physical fitness
- Teamwork skills
- Strong communication
- Adaptability
- Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in high-stress situations
How Long Does It Take to Become a Flight Nurse?
Becoming a flight nurse could take over five years — four years of traditional BS in Nursing education and a few years of clinical experience — but choosing an ABSN program can expedite the process. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for the accelerated BS in Nursing program at the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
Our ABSN program leverages your previous education, allowing you to earn a BS in Nursing in as few as 16 months. The program combines nursing theory coursework with hands-on simulation labs and nursing clinicals.
Our coursework lays the foundation on which students can build their skills. In skills and simulation labs, students practice core nursing skills, such as patient assessment and IV insertion, in a simulated setting with high-tech medical manikins as their first patients. They also learn to navigate simulated clinical scenarios, working as a team with their cohort.
Lastly, students apply all they have learned to real-world practice in nursing clinicals. Students are placed in healthcare facilities throughout New York City, where they provide direct patient care under close supervision by the healthcare staff and preceptors.
Clinical rotations, which start in the first semester, allow students to experience working as nurses and provide valuable networking opportunities with staff at various healthcare facilities.
Upon graduation, students are fully prepared to confidently take the NCLEX and earn their nursing license, ready to embark on their careers.
Learn more about our ABSN program and how to choose the right nursing program here.
Are Flight Nurses in Demand?
Due to a national nursing shortage, nurses are in high demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), registered nurse employment is projected to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033. While the BLS does not collect data specifically for flight nursing, with about 190,500 job openings projected each year over the decade, now is a great time to enter the nursing field.
Launch Your Nursing Career with Mount Saint Vincent
Regardless of where your nursing career takes you, Mount Saint Vincent helps you build a career you can be proud of. Whether you want to provide life-saving care in the skies as a flight nurse or care for infants in the NICU, you can rely on the education you receive through Mount Saint Vincent’s ABSN program.
Contact an admission counselor today to learn how our ABSN program can kickstart an exciting and rewarding career.