Flight for Life RN

Mountain Region Ambulatory; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Flight For Life Colorado, proudly part of CommonSpirit Health, seeks an experienced RN Flights to provide direct patient care during transport and lead critical decision-making in high-stress settings. This role requires strong critical care skills, flight transport expertise, and the ability to work independently.

You will also participate in regional education and community outreach. Required qualifications include an Associate's Degree in Nursing, current RN license (NLC preferred), 5 years

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Nursing from an accredited program.
• Current state RN license / National Licensure Compact.
• Five years of recent critical care experience.
• BLS from the American Heart Association.
• ACLS.
• PALS upon hire or within six months.
• Certified Flight RN upon hire or within two years.
• NRP upon hire or within 12 months.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• Maintain current certifications required by CA of Medical Transport Systems.
• ATLS/Advanced Trauma Life Support upon hire or within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care during transport.
• Make critical medical decisions.
• Collaborate with the transport team to ensure safe outcomes.
• Extend hospital resources into the community and participate in regional education.
• Manage resources and patient flow based on team needs.

Skills

Critical care

Flight nursing

Assessment skills

Independent work

Education

Associate's Degree in Nursing

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing

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.