Flight Nurse Job Description Template

A flight nurse provides emergency care to patients in a helicopter or airplane. These RNs work with paramedics, respiratory therapists, and physicians to deliver care to critically-ill patients. Becoming a flight nurse takes significant training and years of clinical experience. If you’re looking to hire an employee with the necessary qualifications and skills, crafting a tailored flight nurse job description can help you recruit a candidate worthy of the job.

In this sample job description, we’ll outline common flight nurse duties, qualifications, and schedule requirements. We’ll also list strategies to help your position stand out among the rest. To get a feel for what other competitive organizations are offering, check out current flight nurse job postings on our nationwide healthcare hiring board.

Then, once you know what you’re able to offer, draft a set of flight nurse interview questions to prepare for the next stage of the hiring process. Once you’ve completed these tasks, you’re ready to organize your job description.

Flight Nurse

Tips: At the beginning of your flight nurse job description, you’ll want to introduce your organization, along with your team’s mission, vision, and values. It’s also essential to review basic details about the job, including your facility’s location and the level of experience you’re looking for. Finally, showcase any company awards or certifications to get prospective candidates excited about the opportunity to join your team.

Template:

Looking to take the next step in your flight nursing career? [Facility name] is hiring an experienced flight nurse to join our medical evacuation team. Transport nurses in our organization are required to work 24-hour call shifts, deploying out of our Philadelphia acute care hospital. We’re hoping to recruit a flight RN with at least five years of emergency or transport nursing experience.

We’re proud to be named “Pennsylvania’s Top Trauma Center” and are known for providing high-quality care to residents across the North Atlantic region. If this sounds like a position you’d be interested in, continue reading as we highlight our flight nurse duties, compensation, and benefits package.

Benefits

Tips: Next, you’ll want to list key elements of your organization’s employee benefits package. Be sure to list professional, financial, and lifestyle perks to appeal to candidates with varied goals and interests. Studies show that many nurses prefer getting benefits like health insurance and paid time off over a higher salary. Take the opportunity to appeal to clinicians looking for work-life balance — these are the members you want on your team.

Template:

• Competitive pay
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• FSA/HSA options
• Paid vacation and holidays, family leave, sick time
• 401(k) matching and access to our pension program
• $5,000 annual tuition reimbursement
• Free overnight accommodation during 24-hour call shifts
• Discounts for local restaurants, gyms, and amusement parks
• Paid continuing education credits

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: Flight nurses care for patients in organizations like:

• Acute care hospital transport teams
• Armed forces medical evacuation units
• Organ procurement agencies
• Commercial medical escort companies
• National Park Service emergency crews

Each of these air transport teams serves a different purpose, so flight nurse tasks and duties would differ depending on the nurse’s employer. For example, a commercial flight nurse would have role expectations that are different from those of an Air Force flight nurse.

Job descriptions should highlight the unique responsibilities of your organization’s flight nurses to give clinicians a better sense of what a typical shift would look like. When nurses are fully aware of a job’s expectations before they apply for the position, they report higher rates of job satisfaction and are more likely to stay with an organization for an extended period of time.

Template:

Flight nurses at our organization are expected to perform the following duties:

• Complete aircraft and emergency equipment safety checks
• Provide CPR and first aid to critically ill patients
• Administer life-saving medications and IV fluids
• Perform invasive procedures like intubation, chest tube insertion, and IV placement
• Document assessment findings and vital signs in the patient’s medical record
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to establish a plan of care
• Serve as the liaison between transport clinicians and hospital staff

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: In this section of your flight nurse job description, you’ll want to clarify your organization’s flight nurse salary and schedule requirements. Hiring departments may fear pay transparency and worry that advertising a narrow pay scale could limit the number of applications they receive. However, many employees won’t even apply to a position that doesn’t give them an idea of their earning potential. Transparency is key to maximizing the number of nurses who apply and would seriously consider taking the position.

Template:

• Starting salary of $115,000, with adjustments made for relevant education and experience
• Shift expectations include two 24-hour call shifts per week (8a-8a)
• Overtime, holiday, and incentive pay available
• Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods

Flight Nurse Qualifications and Skills

Tips: Now that you’ve grabbed the interest of prospective candidates, it’s time to outline the degree, skills, and certifications you’re looking for. Does your organization mandate specific flight nurse height requirements? Are you looking for a nurse to have experience working with a certain patient population? Answer questions like these by listing required and preferred qualifications for your position.

Template:

Required Qualifications:

• Active and unencumbered RN license
• BSN required, MSN preferred
• BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NRP certified
• At least 5 years of emergency nursing experience
• Passing score on our organization’s flight nurse course prior to first shift

Preferred Qualifications:

• Flight nurse certification (CFRN)
• Previous active duty military service
• At least 3 years of flight nursing experience
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Call to Action

Tips: At the end of your flight nurse job description, you’ll want to guide interested candidates directly to the job application. Be sure to include a link labeled “Apply Now” or “Click Here to Apply.” You can also list hiring manager contact information to allow candidates to reach out with any questions they may have about the application process.

Template:

Ready to become the newest flight nurse for our prestigious university medical system? Start today by clicking “Apply Now.” The entire application process takes less than 10 minutes, and you can upload your resume and cover letter straight to the application form. Feel free to call our hiring manager at the phone number above if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing your application!

Find Compassionate Clinicians Looking for Work

Developing a well-written flight nurse job description is the first step to finding a skilled and compassionate clinician. Next, you’ll want to ensure that your posting is seen by competitive applicants. By posting your vacancies to the nation’s top healthcare hiring board, you can connect with over 1 million qualified healthcare professionals actively searching for a job.