A flight nurse is a licensed and registered nurse, who is present on an air ambulance to handle the patients in a trauma situation or in need of specialized care.
Medical escorts and flight nurses are primarily responsible for providing immediate medical assistance to patients.
Their duty starts right from the crisis scene till the time a patient is safely transported to the hospital. Their services are often offered by long distance medical transport services companies, offering air ambulance services for patients.
They are mostly supported by a paramedic team, which might include a flight physician or a respiratory specialist if required.
Let’s have a look at the duties of a medical escort and flight nurses –
1. Provide Relief From Stress
A flight nurse is responsible for rescuing patients from intense stress situations that might include mental, physical and psychological factors. It is their duty to ensure that every patient on board the air ambulance gets the right medical care at the right time, while in flight.
2. Right Assessment of The Situation
The flight nurse is required to make a precise assessment of the situation in order to devise the most suited plan of action for the patient. She or he needs to assess his medical condition with regards to his ailments, administer any medicines, monitor vital functions and ensure that there are enough supplies and equipment on board.
3. Liaison Factor
Flight nurses and medical escorts need to create the perfect liaison between the team at the medical facility and the team on board the air ambulance. He or she should be able to communicate effectively about the patient’s condition and any preparations that the receiving unit needs to undertake.
4. Handle Any Surgical Emergencies
The flight nurse should be trained to undertake a surgery in the absence of a flight physician in order to save the life of the patient.
