Each member of the Northwest MedStar medical crew is part of a dedicated team working together to save lives. It is a fast-paced, exciting and fulfilling career, one that challenges and inspires you every day.
There are many ways to begin your career as a Flight Nurse or Flight Respiratory Therapist. The following are some guidelines to help you plan your career.
- Obtain a current flight team member mentor. There are people in each profession at NW MedStar who would be happy to assist you with career planning.
- Join your professional organization
- Participate on unit committees
- Professional certification in one or more of the following is preferred: (RNC, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, RRT)
- 3 years critical care experience in related field (ER, ICU, CICU, NICU, PICU)
- Advanced certifications (BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, PHTLS, NPS)
- Pre-hospital experience preferred (EMT, NREMT, EMT-P)
At Northwest MedStar, we often receive questions about what it is like to have a career in critical care transport. The following provides answers to some of the most common questions we receive. If you have a specific question, or would like more information about a career in flight care, contact us.
What experience is required to qualify as a member of the flight team?
A minimum of three years critical care experience is required prior to application. (CICU, ICU, NEURO, ER, NICU, PICU)
How many transports do you do a year?
Northwest MedStar averages 3,500 transports per year, including helicopter, fixed-wing and ground transport.
If I were hired, would I fly in both helicopter and airplane?
Yes, all our flight crew utilize both helicopter and airplane, as well as our ground transport units, depending on various issues such as weather conditions, location and specific needs of the patient.
Where do I have to live to fulfill your response times?
Flight crews must be able to respond to the hangar within 25 minutes.
What skills are required for a career in critical care transport?
All advanced skills you need that are specific to air medical transport, beyond your basic hospital skills, will be taught during orientation at NW MedStar.
What kind of shifts do you work?
We work both 12 hour and 24 hour shifts, depending on your job description. Some on-call is required.
Who is part of a NW MedStar flight crew?
Our team consists of a Registered Nurse, Registered Respiratory Therapist, Pilot and a Communication Specialist, all working together to meet the needs of our patients.
What is the difference between the Adult Nurse and the Perinatal/Pediatric Nurse?
A Perinatal/Pediatric Nurse transports all neonates, pediatric patients up to age 14 and all high risk maternal patients. An Adult Nurse transports all patients from the age of 15 on up.
What type of patients do you transport the most?
The majority of our adult patients are cardiac related.