Flight for Life RN

CommonSpirit Health; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 5,410,000 - 185,678,000; Full time

Job summary

CommonSpirit Health's Flight For Life Colorado program seeks an experienced RN for critical care transport. You will apply nursing process during direct transport, make rapid medical decisions, and collaborate with the team to ensure optimal outcomes.

The role requires five years of critical care experience, extensive certifications, and the ability to work in high-stress environments. We offer rigorous training and a mission-driven team dedicated to life-saving care.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Nursing required.
• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
• Current RN license/License from participating state in National Licensure Compact (NLC).
• Five years of recent critical care experience.
• BLS from American Heart Association.
• ACLS.
• PALS within 6 months of hire/transfer.
• Certified Flight RN within 2 years of hire/transfer.
• NRP within 12 months of hire/transfer.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Maintain required certifications per regulatory bodies (e.g., CAMTS).
• Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course or ATLS within 12 months of hire/transfer.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients’ physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs and intervene to optimize outcomes.
• Plan and implement resuscitation, stabilization and transport of critically ill patients.
• Perform therapeutic/diagnostic interventions (IVs, wound care, meds, catheterization, specimen collection, minor procedures).
• Promote patient safety and advocate for patient rights in air or ground transport settings.
• Execute patient plan of care and monitor outcomes per nursing standards.

Skills

Critical care

Flight transport

Independent under high stress

Education

Associate’s Degree in Nursing

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

RN license (NLC)

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our RN Flights, you will apply the nursing process to alleviate human suffering and enhance quality of life by combining excellent medical care with appropriate and safe transportation in critical care flight settings.

Every day you will provide direct patient care during transport, make critical medical decisions, and collaborate with your team to ensure safe and effective patient outcomes. You will also extend hospital resources into the community and actively participate in professional growth and regional education.

To be successful in this role, you will be a Registered Nurse with strong critical care nursing skills, expertise in flight transport, and the ability to work independently in high-stress environments.

• Assesses patient’s physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual needs through observation, interview, review of medical records & clinical data. Evaluates patient’s response and intervenes to ensure optimal patient outcome.

• Plans and implements resuscitation, stabilization and transport of critically ill and injured patients according to Patient Care Guidelines. Provides airway management, optimizes perfusion, and relieves pain and/or stress within air or ground transport setting. Justifies variances from protocol when appropriate.

• Effectively performs a variety of therapeutic/diagnostic interventions including but not limited to IV’s, wound care, medication administration, catheterization, specimen collections, orthopedic and minor surgical procedures.

• Promotes, advocates and collaborates to protect the health, safety and rights of each patient. Promotes a safe environment essential to the health and well-being of all individuals with the air medical transport environment, including aircraft and ambulance safety and universal precautions and protocols.

• Implements patient plan of care and observe outcomes in accordance with nursing standards and physician directions.

• Manages resources and patient flow through matching nursing competencies with individualized patient’s and transport team’s needs.

Job Requirements

Required

• Associate’s Degree in Nursing

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing

• Current state RN license/ Current RN license from participating state in National Licensure Compact

• Five (5) years of recent critical care experience

• BLS from the American Heart Association

• ACLS

• PALS upon hire or within six (6) months of hire/transfer

• Certified Flight RN Certified Flight Registered Nurse upon hire or within two (2) years of hire/transfer

• NRP upon hire or within 12 months of hire/transfer

• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass the annual review of driving record for safe vehicle operations

• Must maintain current on all certifications required by Commission for Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems

• Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) upon hire or within 12 months of hire/transfer

• Physical Requirements: Heavy Work – exert/lift up to 100 lbs. force occasionally, and/or 50 lbs. frequently, and/or 20 lbs. constantly

Preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

• Previous ICU experience

Where You’ll Work

Proudly part of CommonSpirit Health, Flight For Life Colorado was the first civilian, hospital-based emergency medical helicopter program in the United States. For over 50 years, we have set the standard for over 300 air medical services worldwide that have modeled our concept. We proudly partner with search and rescue agencies, offering specialized services such as aerial search support and our Avalanche Deployment Program. Our reputation for rigorous training, comprehensive coverage, and proven expertise has made us the air medical program of choice for hospitals, EMS agencies, ski patrols, and rescue teams. With industry leading technology and a highly experienced team, we provide critical care transport across several states in the Rocky Mountain Region, including the Denver Metro area, Summit County, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Durango, northern New Mexico, southeastern Utah, and western Kansas. If you’re passionate about delivering life-saving care in dynamic, high-stakes environments, Flight For Life is where you can make a difference. Join us in continuing our legacy of excellence.

Pay Range

$39.27 – $64.80 /hour

We are an equal opportunity employer.