Flight for Life RN

CommonSpirit Health; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

CommonSpirit Health's Flight For Life Colorado is seeking an RN with strong critical care and flight transport experience. You will provide direct patient care during transport, make critical medical decisions, and work with a team to ensure safe outcomes across air and ground missions.

The role requires an RN with five years of critical care experience, active state license (NLC), BLS, ACLS, PALS within hire, and certification as a Flight RN.

Qualifications

• Requires Associate's Degree in Nursing and active RN license in a participating state.
• Minimum 5 years of recent critical care experience.
• Strong critical care and flight transport knowledge; ability to work independently in high-stress settings.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient's physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs via observation, interviews and records.
• Plan and execute resuscitation, stabilization and transport per care guidelines; manage air/ground transport airway and perfusion.
• Perform therapeutic/diagnostic interventions (IVs, wound care, meds, catheterization, specimen collection).
• Promote patient safety and rights; uphold universal precautions and aircraft/ambulance safety protocols.
• Implement and monitor the patient care plan; adapt to team needs and transport logistics.

Skills

Critical care nursing

Flight transport

Independent under pressure

Team collaboration

Education

Associate's Degree in Nursing

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing

RN license (state participating in NLC)

Five years of recent critical care experience

BLS (American Heart Association)

ACLS

PALS (within hire or 6 months)

Certified Flight RN

NRP (within hire or 12 months)

Driver’s license & driving record check

ATLS or Trauma Course (within 12 months)

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.