How to Become a Life Flight Nurse: Requirements and Career Guide with Megan Ames
Megan Ames
Life flight Nurse in Utah
Quick Start: Becoming a Life Flight Nurse
How do you get started in air medical transport? To become a Life Flight nurse, you must first earn a BSN and gain a minimum of 3–5 years of high-acuity ICU or ER experience. Most flight programs require certifications like the CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse). According to Megan Ames, a Life Flight nurse for Intermountain Health, the role requires mastery of ventilator management, rapid decision-making, and the ability to operate an "ICU in the sky" autonomously. Discovering a Nontraditional Nursing Path
Is Life Flight Nursing Different from Hospital Nursing?
Yes. You are essentially a flying one-person ICU. While hospital nurses have a full team and immediate resources, Megan Ames explains that Life Flight nurses operate with extreme autonomy.
90% Interfacility Transport: Most calls aren't "accidents on the side of the road"—they are moving critically ill patients from rural hospitals to specialized centers.
Advanced Scope: You may perform procedures like intubation, chest decompression, and pericardiocentesis that are typically reserved for doctors in a hospital setting.
Environmental Challenges: You must handle high-stress situations while managing aircraft weight, weather logistics, and fuel calculations.
Step-by-Step Roadmap: How to Prepare for the Air
To be a competitive candidate for programs like Intermountain Life Flight, follow this clinical path:
Obtain your BSN: While some local flight crews accept ADNs, top-tier programs require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Master the ICU: Spend at least 3 years in a high-volume Shock Trauma or Medical ICU. Experience with invasive monitoring and vasoactive drips is non-negotiable.
Get Certified: Aim for your CCRN (Critical Care Registered Nurse) first, then transition to your CFRN (Certified Flight Registered Nurse).
Understand the "24-Hour" Lifestyle: Life Flight shifts are often 24 hours long. You must be prepared for calls that come in at the very end of your shift, extending your day significantly.
What are the Hardest Parts of Being a Life Flight Nurse?
The "Emotional Baggage" of Critical Care Megan is candid about the mental load. Unlike a floor nurse who might see a patient recover over a week, a flight nurse only sees patients at their absolute worst.
No Handoff: Once a flight starts, you own that patient until they are safely inside the destination facility.
Graphic Realities: You will face high mortality rates and graphic trauma.
The Reward: Despite the intensity, Megan states that the autonomy and the view from the "office" make it a career most people never want to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions: Life Flight Careers
Q: Do Life Flight nurses only fly in helicopters?
A: No. Many teams, including Megan’s, use both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft (planes) for longer-distance transports across state lines or international borders.
Q: Is there a weight limit for Life Flight nurses?
A: Yes. Most programs have strict weight limits for crew members (often around 200–225 lbs in gear) because of the strict weight and balance requirements of aircraft.
Q: Do I need ER or ICU experience?
A: Most programs accept both, but ICU experience is often preferred because flight nursing is essentially "critical care management" during transport.
Dive Deeper into Megan Ames' Journey
To hear the full details on the Intermountain Life Flight transport program and how Megan navigated the transition from the Southeast to Utah, watch the full episode:
Full Video Interview: Watch the full episode!
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