Flight nurses care for critical patients aboard emergency transport aircraft. Curious about how to become a flight nurse? You’ll need to earn a BSN, pass the NCLEX-RN, obtain an RN license and gain at least three to five years of experience before pursuing a job as a flight care nurse.
A flight nurse treats patients as they are being airlifted to a hospital or trauma center. These nurses work with critically injured or ill patients who need rapid transport and high-level care. If you want to know how to become a flight nurse, understand that this nursing specialty is not an entry-level one. Entering this practice area requires both nursing credentials and extensive clinical experience.
You can start your journey toward becoming a flight registered nurse (RN) at Marian University. Our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program leverages your prior non‑nursing degree and offers an online-based, hybrid curriculum. You can earn your Bachelor of Science in nursing in as few as 16 months.
Before enrolling in nursing school, you may wish to explore your career options, and find answers to common questions, such as “What is a flight nurse?” and “How much do flight nurses make?” Then, learn about the role’s requirements and how to get started.
What Is a Flight Nurse?
A flight nurse is an experienced RN who treats critically ill or injured patients aboard helicopters or planes during transport to a hospital or trauma center. They may work for independent medical transport companies, fire departments, search-and-rescue teams, hospitals, or trauma centers. Their patient populations can include wilderness accident victims, trauma cases and others in need of critical care.
Some flight nurses serve in the military or reserves, treating injured soldiers and civilians during medical evacuations.
Flight care nurses work on a team that typically consists of one or two flight nurses, a paramedic, and a pilot.
What Does a Flight Nurse Do? Core Responsibilities
Flight nurses provide pre-hospital care that focuses on stabilizing patients and preserving life until they reach a trauma center. The work is fast-paced and leaves little room for error.
Some of the core responsibilities of a helicopter or airplane nurse include:
- Documenting the patient’s condition and all interventions provided
- Doing supply checks and restocking the aircraft with medical supplies as needed
- Evacuating, assessing, and stabilizing patients
- Handling airway management
- Performing life-saving interventions, such as intubation and chest tube placement
Flight nurses don’t always pick up patients from accident scenes or wilderness areas. They also transport critically ill patients between hospitals when specialized care is needed at another facility.
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How to Become a Flight Nurse: Step-by-Step Guide
Flight nursing is a demanding nursing specialty that requires extensive clinical expertise and calmness under pressure. Because of this, it’s not an entry-level nursing specialty. Flight nurse requirements include both education and clinical experience.
Earn a BSN
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing is the most common first step toward becoming a flight registered nurse. An accelerated option like Marian’s ABSN can help you earn this degree sooner than through a traditional four-year degree program. As an ABSN student, you will work through a rigorous curriculum that includes online-based coursework, where you will cover topics such as:
- Care of adult, geriatric, pediatric, and pregnant patient populations
- Health assessments
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
Your classes will teach nursing theory, and you’ll engage in hands-on learning during nursing skills and simulation labs. Additionally, you’ll spend hundreds of hours completing clinical rotations at top area hospitals, providing direct patient care under supervision across a range of practice areas.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
After graduating with a BSN, you can apply to take the NCLEX-RN. This is the national licensure exam that all aspiring RNs must pass. The NCLEX-RN tests your nursing knowledge and ability to form appropriate nursing decisions in various clinical situations. Upon passing the exam, you can apply for a state-issued nursing license.
Gain Relevant Clinical Experience
As an aspiring flight nurse, you will need at least three to five years of clinical experience at the bedside to be a competitive candidate. Look for an entry-level nursing job in a related nursing specialty, such as critical care, emergency room nursing, or trauma nursing, to develop the skills needed for flight nursing.
Obtain Certifications and Gain Flight Nursing Experience
Some employers require flight nurses to hold certifications in related specialties, such as critical care or emergency nursing, before transitioning into flight nursing. Earning these certifications helps you qualify for your first flight nursing job.
Flight nurses are often expected to obtain flight nursing certification after a year or two of employment in this nursing specialty.
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How Long Does It Take to Become a Flight Nurse?
Since flight nursing isn’t an entry-level nursing specialty, the career pathway is not short, but it can be worthwhile. The exact timeline varies, depending on your starting point and the choices you make along the way. In general, the timeline for how to become a flight nurse may look like this:
- BSN: Four years for a traditional BSN or as few as 16 months for an ABSN
- NCLEX-RN: Typically taken about two months after graduation
- Clinical experience: At least three to five years
Enrolling in Marian University’s ABSN can shorten the timeline to become a flight nurse. Keep in mind, however, that you may need to complete prerequisite courses before enrolling, which will add to your total time spent on your nursing education.
Thorough preparation for the NCLEX-RN can also shorten your timeline by helping you pass the exam on your first attempt.
If you plan on becoming a flight nurse for the military, you will need to complete specialized training for that capacity during your service, including an 8.5-week officer training program.
Flight Nurse Salary: How Much Do Flight Nurses Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all types of RNs made a median annual salary of $93,600 as of May 2024. The BLS doesn’t track salary data for flight care nurses specifically, but this nursing specialty is widely known to compensate nurses above the national average. This is due to the demanding nature of flight nursing and the career requirements.
Is Flight Nursing Right for You?
Flight nursing can be a good career choice for those who thrive in high-pressure situations and can remain calm when making life-or-death decisions. This specialty also demands a high degree of autonomy.
In addition to these character traits, a flight nurse should have the following:
- Ability to work in cramped spaces and challenging conditions
- Adaptability
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Critical thinking skills
- Decision-making skills
- Physical and mental stamina
If you possess these skills or are eager to develop them, then flight nursing could be a great choice for you.
Start Your Path to Nursing at Marian University
Marian University offers an accessible, faster pathway to a nursing career, no matter which nursing specialty you’re interested in. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you may be eligible to apply to our ABSN program and graduate in as few as 16 months after completing any needed prerequisites.
Our ABSN program offers a comprehensive curriculum with immersive, hands-on learning opportunities and online-based coursework. You’ll be supported by our experienced faculty and Academic Success Coaches as you learn to provide holistic nursing care.
Request information and connect with an advisor today to learn more and take the next step.