Flight Registered Nurse (RN), Air Care & Mobile Care, ONA
The Air Care Nurse provides advanced critical care and emergency nursing services during helicopter transport of critically ill and injured patients. Working as part of a specialized air medical transport team, the Flight Nurse independently assesses, stabilizes, monitors, and manages patients requiring intensive care while ensuring safe transport in the rotor-wing environment. The Flight Nurse collaborates closely with pilots, physicians, referring facilities, EMS agencies, and receiving hospitals to deliver evidence-based critical care throughout every phase of transport.
Typical Patient Population: Adult, pediatric, trauma, cardiac, neurological, respiratory failure, sepsis, post-cardiac arrest, ECMO, intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), ventricular assist devices (VAD), high-risk obstetrical patients (when applicable), and other critically ill or injured patients requiring advanced transport.
Orientation: Flight Nurse orientation is approximately 10–12 weeks. The orientation includes classroom instruction, aircraft safety, transport physiology, advanced clinical skills, simulation, and supervised flight experiences. The goal is to prepare the Flight Nurse to independently provide advanced critical care during rotor-wing transport.
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Perform comprehensive critical care assessments and provide advanced nursing management for adult and pediatric patients during helicopter transport.
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Stabilize critically ill and injured patients while providing continuous monitoring throughout transport.
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Administer medications, blood products, vasoactive infusions, sedation, analgesia, and other therapies according to established protocols and medical direction.
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Manage patients requiring advanced airway support, mechanical ventilation, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, and other specialized critical care interventions.
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Operate and troubleshoot transport equipment including cardiac monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps, point-of-care testing devices, and other specialized transport equipment.
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Interpret ECGs, laboratory results, hemodynamic data, and diagnostic findings to guide patient care.
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Collaborate with pilots, EMS personnel, referring and receiving physicians, bedside clinicians, dispatch, and other members of the transport team.
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Ensure compliance with aviation safety standards, transport protocols, regulatory requirements, infection prevention practices, and organizational policies.
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Complete accurate and timely patient care documentation.
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Participate in quality improvement initiatives, simulation training, continuing education, and clinical competency programs.
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Perform pre-flight aircraft and equipment readiness checks, inventory management, and routine operational responsibilities.
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Serve as a professional ambassador for the air medical program while promoting exceptional patient care and safety.
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Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in OH.
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Minimum of 3–5 years of recent critical care experience in an ICU, Emergency Department, or comparable high-acuity setting.
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Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
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Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
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Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification.
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Ability to meet physical and medical requirements for transport team operations.
Preferred Qualifications
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Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), or Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN). Must obtain advanced certification, CFRN or CTRN, within two years of hire.
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Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC).
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Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification, or must obtain within 1-year of hire
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International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) certification, or equivalent, or must obtain within 1-year of hire
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Previous critical care transport, or emergency transport experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Advanced knowledge of critical care nursing principles and emergency medicine.
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Proficiency in ventilator management, vasoactive medication administration, and invasive monitoring.
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Strong clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills.
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Ability to function independently in dynamic and resource-limited environments.
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Effective communication and teamwork skills.
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Knowledge of transport safety, and emergency operations.
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Ability to remain calm and effective during high-stress situations.
Physical Requirements
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Ability to lift, transfer, and transport patients and equipment in confined spaces.
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Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, and work in moving vehicles or aircraft for extended periods.
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Ability to work, weekends, holidays, and on-call assignments.
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Ability to tolerate varying environmental conditions and transport-related stressors.
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As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.
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