Tags: flight nurse
Anyone in the area interested in a Sweetest Day beer? Better yet, anyone else going to the conference?
Oh, and Mark? I almost cried when I saw that you won’t be there!
Just for the record, that is TweetDeck on my laptop. Scanman and Strong—thanks for keeping me company!
Now, I must prepare myself for flying commercial. Yeesh.
I took this photo after one of the most broken trauma patients I have flown.
It isn’t a great photo, but you should be able to play ‘Guess the Intervention’ with the equipment on the cart. I will post the actual equipment list when I locate which flight suit pocket it is in.
I after my second pediatric ICU transfer Friday, I told the attending physician I would be back. Although the PICU flight was delayed by 24 hours or so, I did my third today. He was absolutely adorable and sick as can be.
Glad that triple is over with.
As I sit here recouping from my three day shifts I thought I would give you Today’s View from my office window. Enjoy!
Bummer.
Guess we will head home.
Today, we took a trip over the river as we were headed up to our remote base. What an amazing way to spend a shift at work!
After my first bad patient flight as a flight medic, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was like a tailored suit, custom made shoes, and a non-narcotic high all at once. Never do I felt so alive as when I am in the air with a critical patient. For that brief amount of time on a mission I was, and still am, completely immersed in what I am doing. There is very little time to think about anything other than my patient. Did I assess the situation appropriately? Is there anything else on physical exam I need to check? Are there any injuries I have missed? Will my patient be better for them calling me? Never, EVER do I feel more alive.
Out of the education I have had, finally completing my paramedic was the closing of the circle. It was also one of the accomplishments I am most proud of. I love being a nurse, but getting my medic license was one of the most difficult things I have done.
When working in the ICU as a nurse, I would tell people that I would have been a paramedic had it paid better. Of any profession in this world, it is the medics and EMTs who I respect the most. EpiJunky and Medic61 have put forth the topic of RN vs Medic—why don’t we get along? My simple answer is that it is based on lack of understanding. But, I digress. I will save that for my post for next week’s NSR.
Where I was I going with that? Oh yes. My interacting with others professionals in my job.
I deal with physicians, medics, firefighters, police officers, nurses, medical assistants, medical secretaries, not to mention the patients and their families. The helicopter and flight suit bring an instantaneous aura of respect, but being able to interface, not offend, and play politics is such a huge part of what I do. The flight suit only goes so far. I still have to be on my game each and every day.
I feel strongly about changing perceptions of nursing. I am so fortunate that I have the opportunity to do that by holding one of the sexiest jobs in the profession. Well, sexy until I have to hose the puke and blood out of the aircraft at 2 a.m.!!
It is no secret that I love my job. I consider myself so fortunate that the stars aligned and was able to earn a place in a flight program. It combines my love for working the street, the skill it takes to be a nurse, and the advanced education of being a Nurse Practitioner. Oh, and being able to shock someone at 2,000 feet adds that little extra something.
A Flight Nurse is quite simply, Hope. Hope to patients, families and the communities they serve. They are also part of a crew who’s members are represented by the individuals here.
It was a busy weekend in the emergency room where I work as a nurse practitioner. Although this series of shifts was awesome (yes I even loved taking care of the sniffles) it was great to be back the in the helicopter instead of watching it take off and land from the door way of the ER as I was doing when I took these photos:
Survival Flight coming for patient
Aero Med coming for another
patient the next day
Monday is never typical for us. The morning began with a transport in which we met the ambulance at the landing zone. While we were waiting, a car parked in the parking lot across the street. It gave us the opportunity for a PR moment. In reality, it was the chance to show our helicopter off to an adorable four year old boy named Zachary.
Brad showing Zachary and his Dad
the “bus drivers seat”
Not sure who was doing the teaching!
After our first transport and some lunch, we were launched on the first of two trauma calls. This was a scene flight in which we made the news. Here are the photos I took on the way to evaluate our patient who was in the back of the ambulance. I was actually in the ambulance taking care of the patient when the video posted was taken.
Multiple injuries in car/school bus crash
Posted: March 24, 2008 03:45 PM
Updated: March 24, 2008 10:01 PM
By Patrick Center and Emily Zangaro
Our LZ was right in the
middle of the street
The bus made it easy to
recognize where we were needed
Amazing the amount of impact
a bus can take
This could have been so much worse than it really was. The kids on the bus were reportedly all okay.
Nate and I took this photo from the roof between flights. Although our job is serious, we do our best to laugh as much as we can. It was another good day to be me.
Emily and Nate
nurse and doctor
Our third transport was an inter-facility trauma call. Another motor vehicle collision and another patient who needed the skill and care of a trauma center. I love trauma season. Although we are still waiting for trauma’s “Opening Day” it is beginning.
Tomorrow? Another day shift and our very anticipated Corporate Meeting.
Coffee Please?
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