Can an LPN to RN Become a Flight Nurse?

An LPN to RN program opens you up to new and exciting opportunities such as the chance to work as a flight nurse. Flight nurses are RNs who specialize in providing medical care in both civilian and military flights. You will often work as part of flight medical providers to offer medical attention to passengers and flight crew in emergencies until you can transfer the patients to a proper healthcare facility.

General Requirements

Flight nurses work a lot in emergencies, which require in depth experience in different specialties such as the emergency room. Many employers require at least 5 years experience in trauma, ICU or in the emergency department. You must prove your ability to work independently in confined spaces, knowledge in advanced critical care and strong communication skills. In addition to your clinical experience, you need experience working in stressful situations for long hours, without a regular shift schedule.

Educational Requirements

Many employers prefer nurses with a degree in nursing and a valid RN license. Once you complete your degree, you must sit for your NCLEX-RN licensure exam for your RN license, which is just the beginning.

If you choose an LPN to RN program, go for a BSN program, which makes it easier for you to advance to an MSN degree, increasing your employability as a flight nurse. Once you acquire your license,start looking for opportunities as an ICU nurse or in the ER to gain the experience you need as a flight nurse.

Certifications and Credentials

In addition to your nursing degree and your RN license, many employers prefer candidates with additional certification in patient care. The first certification you can pursue with an unrestricted RN license is the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN). You can take the CFRN before becoming a flight nurse; however, it is advisable to gain at least 2 years experience before taking the exam, after which your CFRN is valid for 4 years. Additional certification to improve your employability and skills as a flight nurse includes:

• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) or the Critical Care Nurse (CCRN) as you wait to sit for your CFRN
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Pediatric Advances Life Support (PALS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC)

Roles and Duties

Your primary role as a flight nurse is to provide quality care to patients who need transportation via aircraft. Your roles may include assessing the illness or injuries; devising a care plan as you wait to access a proper healthcare facility; collecting and keeping track of paperwork and the physician's instructions and stabilizing the patient as you wait for the doctor.

Other responsibilities on the job include:

• Provision of immediate care such as treatments, triage, and assessment to patients in air transport
• Maintaining medical supplies and equipment in an aircraft
• Monitoring of patients’ vital signs
• Organizing and maintaining patients’ paperwork and charts
• Providing first aid, resuscitation and inserting IVs en route to the destination
• Assisting the pilot with communication in emergencies
• Ensuring patients remain safe on-board

Working Conditions

Your salary and working conditions will depend on your employer and the nature of the job. For example, in the military, you might have to work in remote areas, responding often to emergencies. As a flight nurse, you will enjoy traveling and working in conditions that push you to new creative heights.

An LPN to RN program, available at Athena Careers Academy, prepares you for your NCLEX-RN exam. Thereafter, you have to work strategically to gain the right experience to enjoy a career as a flight nurse.