Imagine being able to rescue people from traumatic events and natural disasters. As a flight nurse, this would be your typical task. Your job would be to rescue people who may be located in remote areas. You are part of the team of medical professionals who works on flights to help treat people with serious injuries. A flight nurse is also responsible for ensuring that a patient is safe on a flight to a hospital located in a major city. Planning and responding to a patient’s in-flight needs is also an important part of being a flight nurse. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a flight nurse?” When you want to become a flight nurse, it is important for you to obtain one of the certifications that is required for this career.
What’s it like to be a flight nurse?
As a flight nurse, you will have an exciting career. You may be called in at the last minute to fly to an island or other remote area in which a patient is suffering. You may need to become part of a rescue team during an emergency situation. Flight nurses also serve the military and provide care for soldiers on the field. When you are a flight nurse, you will be able to administer medications and the appropriate treatments for severe injuries. You may have to bandage wounds or perform minor surgery procedures. You may also need to administer CPR or other life-saving measures for patients. The job of a flight nurse is highly stressful and exciting at the same time. One should be prepared to take on lots of responsibility and have the ability to respond quickly in emergency situations as a flight nurse.
Education Requirements
To become a flight nurse, it is essential for you to obtain a degree in nursing. You will need to apply to nursing programs, and you should be aware that nursing programs can be highly competitive. You need to have a high grade point average to be admitted to most nursing programs. It is also important for you to consider obtaining a specific certification to become a flight nurse. You can receive a certification to become a Certified Emergency Nurse or Critical Care Registered Nurse. You can also receive a certification to become a Certified Flight Registered Nurse. When you receive a certification, you make yourself much more marketable as a flight nurse. You can also receive a higher salary as a flight nurse when you have a certification.
Salary & How to Get a Job
The average salary of a flight nurse is about $66,000 a year. A flight nurse may earn a higher salary depending on the number of hours that he or she works. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of jobs in this field is expected to increase. By 2016, the BLS expects that there will be an additional 600,000 jobs in the flight nurse field. A military flight nurse may earn a high salary of at least $120,000 a year. If one works for the military, then he or she may also receive a housing allowance of about $600 to $1,200 every month. One may also receive additional funds for family separation allowance too.
References:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_nurse#Role_and_duties
2. http://www.ehow.com/how_4586266_become-flight-nurse.html
3. http://www.bls.gov/k12/help04.htm
4. http://www.flightnursing.org/Flight-Nursing-Salary.html