In-flight nursing requirements
The minimal requirements have been stated by the RCN Critical Care and In-Flight Nursing forum as follows:
- full NMC Registration - RGN/RMN/RSCN/RM.(Parts 1 and 2 of the revised register August 2004)
- full RCN membership or equivalent professional indemnity.
- minimum of three years post Basic Course (acute area) i.e. Care of the Adult in A&E, ITU, etc., formerly ENB 199/100/124 courses
- experience in one of the critical care areas such as ITU, A&E or Mental Health preferred.
- evidence of mandatory updates if a Registered Midwife as per Midwifery Rules.
The additional requirements are those which are known requirements to comply with health and safety that most assistance companies prefer. However, this list is not exhaustive, and suggestive. The key issue is that you are and can prove competence as a registered nurse working in the in-flight environment. With the development of the in-flight competences in progress, nurses should be able to demonstrate the competences to practice.
In addition most assistance companies prefer previous in-flight experience with the intention of undertaking an appropriate specialist course.
A few companies prefer (in addition to the above):
- BLS (essential)
- ILS
- ALS/ATLS/PALS/ATNC/TNCC (usually required for ITU type transfers)
Other useful qualifications:
- diploma/certificate in travel health
Other key documents:
- NMC Statement of Entry (card not evidence of entry)
- Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Enhanced disclosure
- Vaccination records (plus evidence of Hep B immunity)
- Manual Handling Update
- Curriculum vitae
- Evidence of professional development.
Personal abilities/attributes are an important factor of the flight nursing role:
- availability at short notice
- cool headed under unexpected stressful circumstances
- working knowledge of a couple of languages (especially useful are Spanish and or French).
- personal fitness with weight in proportion to height.
- possession of a full passport.
- full clean UK/EU driving licence
- ability to improvise
- ability to recognise your limitations
- sense of humour
- lastly, and probably most importantly, is a love of flying
Air Ambulance Requirements
Specifically for Air Ambulance work, companies tend to recruit nurses with an existing background in Critical Care nursing. Requirements will include a post registration qualification in critical care along with a substantial track record of experience in that field. Most air ambulance flights are now staffed by the air ambulance companies rather than the assistance companies and each will set their own recruitment criteria.
See also: