I frequently meet people who want to join our ranks, and ask how. While I have my own ideas, every situation is different. Would you take a moment and tell your job-getting story in the comment section? You might help a friend, or make a new one...
Thanks!
Dan
Thanks for asking Dan!! I would love to share how I got my job as a Flight Nurse, and got to meet you in the HEMS world! I graduated with my BSN in 2001. I must admit I’m lucky enough to say that I have now had two dream jobs. My first was to work in an ICU with cardiac patients and open heart surgery. I was hired into that dream job straight out of school. I spent 12 years working there full time (I still work there just not full time). I even spent 3 years as a charge nurse. The majority of those years were spent on night shift, where your resources are limited and you "make it happen" until the resources are available, valuable knowledge for the HEMS world. During that time I gained many critical skills such as taking care of immediate post op open heart surgery patients. Through those years I also spent about 10 years working “prn” in the ER and learned a different side of nursing, and about 2 years working in an inpatient hospice facility. But I grew up watching helicopters fly overhead taking patients to a hospital in Savannah and always wondered “what are they doing” and “are they having fun”. I had the “bug” to fly so during my years at the hospital I did my best to get the needed certifications so “one day maybe….” since there was no HEMS base in my area. I made sure to get ACLS, PALS, BLS, and in 2004 got my CCRN. (I even had TNCC for when I worked in the ER.) I knew that the critical drip component would be a big help and taking care of those critical patients over the years would teach me a lot. Last year when I found out a HEMS base was opening up in my area I took the chance and applied. The written test was hard, there was so much pre-hospital information that I just didn’t know. The scenarios were grueling and the interview made me a nervous wreck. But thankfully I was hired and now have been flying almost 1 year, my other dream job. One of the many wonderful things about the pairing of a paramedic and a nurse is that where the nurse is weak (pre-hospital skills) the paramedic is strong and vice versa. I’ve learned a lot already and have more to learn. I’m looking forward to many years in HEMS and many flights with Dan Foulds!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Molly. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteDan
Well Dan I guess I would have to start my story by saying that I was sleeping with another flight medic! Hahaha. If it is any conciliation I married the same one about a year later. I was an EMT working for a hospital based service that had both a helicopter and a high call volume EMS service. I got my medic certification and during the time another flight edict would always show me things they did and how the helicopter operated. I was asked several times to go out for the position and rufused to because in my own mind I needed more experience as a medic. After about 7 years I felt comfortable enough went out for the position. I got the position and worked as a part-time medic for 2 years and transitioned into a full-time position. I have been in this position for about 6 years now and love It as much as the first day. Oh and I am still sleeping with that same flight medic also. It has been a great career dispiriting for me.
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