How to Become a Flight Nurse

1. Know the role: what does a flight nurse do?

Flight nurses treat critically injured or ill patients in an unstable environment. Often, a flight nurse’s patients have undergone severe trauma that requires fast transport from an accident scene to a medical facility, or quick transport from one medical center to another.

During transport, flight nurses stabilize patients as much as possible, administer emergency care, and prepare patients for treatment. Basic duties include starting IVs, providing medication, and performing advanced resuscitation techniques, such as CPR.

If a patient needs a life-saving treatment that is not available at the original facility, he or she may be transported to a larger medical center. In these situations, flight nurses work with the medical team at the receiving facility. The nurse may help prepare the patient for treatment, as well as prepare case notes and patient files.

Day-to-day duties of a flight nurse also include daily aircraft and equipment checks, cleaning on-call rooms, checking expiration dates of medication, and ensuring the aircraft is ready for patients.

4. Gain hands-on nursing experience

Employers may be seeking applicants with a few years of experience in the ICU or ER. Working in these areas or a trauma unit can help provide aspiring flight nurses the knowledge needed to triage patients and manage a fast-changing flow of patients with a variety of care needs. Familiarity with basic aspects of navigation and flight can also prove helpful.

Certification is not currently required for flight nurses, but it can help increase your earning potential and help you stay competitive in the job market. You can demonstrate your competence in flight nursing by becoming a certified flight registered nurse (CFRN) from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).

Currently, you do not need a master’s degree to become a flight nurse; however, it can help improve your salary and earning potential.

How much can a flight nurse make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for RNs is $94,480 per year ($45.42 per hour).* National averages do not typically reflect entry-level positions.  Flight nurse salaries vary based on many factors including your experience, your employer, geographic area of work, and level of education.