Flight Nurse

Intermountain Health; Pagosa Springs (CO); On-site; USD 56,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Intermountain Health in Colorado seeks a Flight Nurse I with at least three years ICU or Emergency Department experience to join our air and ground transport team. You will provide advanced life support, autonomous clinical judgment, and collaborate with diverse healthcare professionals in dynamic transport operations.

The role requires a BSN, active RN license, and certifications including NRP within 120 days of hire and CFRN within two years, plus trauma care credentials.

Qualifications

• State-certified Nurse with no restrictions, valid in area of operation.
• ALS/BLS/PALS certifications and trauma care.
• NRP within 120 days of hire.
• Emergency room or critical care experience.
• CFRN within two years of hire.
• Advanced trauma certifications within one year.
• BSN within four years of hire/promotion.

Responsibilities

• Provides advanced life support and patient stabilization during air and ground transport.
• Assesses and stabilizes critically ill or injured patients.
• Performs pre-hospital and interfacility advanced life support.
• Maintains and prepares medical equipment and documents care.
• Collaborates with healthcare teams to ensure continuity of care during transport.
• Follows safety protocols for air medical transport and altitude-related challenges.

Skills

Patient Care

Medical Procedures

Medical Knowledge

Patient Evaluations

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Care

Critical Care

Critical Thinking

Decision Making Under Pressure

Communication / Teamwork

Education

BSN degree

RN license

NRP within 120 days

CFRN within 2 years

Trauma certs (ATLS/TNATC/TNCC/PHTLS) within 1 year

Job description

Job Description:

We’re seeking a highly skilled critical care nurse with at least three years of ICU or Emergency Department experience to join our flight team. You’ll provide advanced care to critically ill and injured patients during air and ground transport, combining expert clinical judgment, autonomy, and teamwork in one of the most rewarding specialties in healthcare.

The Flight Nurse I provides advanced, autonomous medical care to critically ill or injured patients during air and ground transport. This position demonstrates exceptional critical thinking, technical skills, and collaboration with healthcare professionals in dynamic and often non-traditional settings. Flight Nurse I is responsible for patient care, operational readiness, and contributing to the overall quality of the transport program.

Essential Functions

• Provides advanced life support, critical care, and patient stabilization during air and ground transport, ensuring compliance with medical protocols and safety standards.
• Assesses and stabilizes critically ill or injured patients using critical thinking and autonomous decision-making in high-pressure environments.
• Performs pre-hospital, interfacility, and in-transport advanced life support, including airway management, cardiac care, and medication administration.
• Maintains and prepares medical equipment, ensures readiness for transport, and documents patient care accurately and thoroughly.
• Collaborates effectively with healthcare teams, patients, and families to ensure clear communication and continuity of care during transport.
• Adheres to safety protocols, including scene safety, air medical transport procedures, and management of altitude-related physiological challenges.
• Meets all physical, technical, and certification requirements, with a commitment to continuous professional development and obtaining CFRN certification within two years of hire or appropriate certification per specialty e.g., CNPT if Peds/NICU.

Skills

• Patient Care
• Medical Procedures
• Medical Knowledge
• Patient Evaluations
• Emergency Medical Services
• Emergency Care
• Critical Care
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making Under Pressure
• Communication / Teamwork

Required Qualifications

• State-certified Nurse with no restrictions, valid in area of operation.
• Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and trauma care.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) within 120 days of hire.
• Demonstrated emergency room or critical care experience.
• Must obtain CFRN certification within two years of hire.
• Advanced certification in trauma care (e.g., TNATC, ATLS, PHTLS, TNCC) within one year of hire, or earlier if required by the state of operation.
• Strong critical thinking and autonomous decision-making abilities in emergency and high-stress situations.
• Expertise in patient care delivery, safety practices, and compassionate handling of critically ill patients.
• Effective communication and teamwork with diverse healthcare professionals and patient families.
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution (degree will be verified). Registered Nurses (RNs) hired or promoted into this role must obtain their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) within four years of their hire or promotion date. If there is an existing education agreement, that agreement will take precedence.

* Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required as of the job description’s last update July 2025. Employees hired or promoted prior to this date will be held to the minimum requirements that were in place at the time of their promotion or hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of diverse critical care experience across various ICU specialties.
• Compact nursing license.
• Advanced certification in trauma care (e.g., TNATC, ATLS, PHTLS, TNCC).
• Experience in mentoring or training healthcare team members.
• Familiarity with advanced medical technologies and ICU-level care during transport.

Physical Requirements

• Must meet a pre-hire weight of less than 226 lbs by interview and maintain weight restrictions within policy.
• Ability to perform strenuous physical tasks, including lifting, bending, and transferring patients and equipment.
• Manual dexterity for operating complex medical equipment and performing life-saving procedures.
• Capability to work in confined spaces, high-stress environments, and extreme conditions, including noise, vibration, temperature, and altitude.
• Ability to pass annual physical health assessments and maintain stamina for long shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Location:

Cortez Air Base, Pagosa Springs Air Base

Work City:

Cortez

Work State:

Colorado

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

42.12

The hourly range for this position is listed below. Actual hourly rate dependent upon experience.

$41.20 - $62.17

We care about your well-being – mind, body, and spirit – which is why we provide our caregivers a generous benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

Learn more about our comprehensive benefits package here.

Intermountain Health is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

All positions subject to close without notice.