Flight Nurse

Intermountain Health; Pagosa Springs (CO); On-site; USD 57,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Intermountain Health is seeking a Flight Nurse I to provide advanced, autonomous medical care during air and ground transport. Ideal candidates have strong critical care backgrounds and a BSN, with CFRN certification pursued within two years of hire.

Responsibilities include managing airway, cardiac care, medications, and documenting care, while maintaining equipment readiness and ensuring patient and family communication throughout transport.

Qualifications

• BSN within four years of hire/promotion
• Must obtain CFRN within two years of hire
• ALS, BLS, PALS, and trauma care certifications required
• State-certified RN with no restrictions
• Emergency room or critical care experience required
• Trauma certs within one year if required by state
• Strong critical thinking and autonomous decision-making abilities

Responsibilities

• Provides advanced life support and patient stabilization during transport.
• Assesses and stabilizes critically ill or injured patients using autonomous decision-making.
• Performs pre-hospital, interfacility, and in-transport ALS including airway management and cardiac care.
• Maintains and prepares medical equipment and documents care.
• Collaborates with healthcare teams, patients, and families for continuity of care.
• Follows safety protocols for air medical transport and altitude-related challenges.
• Meets all physical, technical, and certification requirements and pursues CFRN within two years

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

Job description

Job Description:

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.

We are seeking Registered Nurses with strong critical care backgrounds and at least three years of critical care nursing experience. Our next orientation groups for this role are anticipated for mid-January and mid-April.

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.

By applying for a position with Intermountain, I acknowledge that I will comply with all applicable Intermountain policies and expectations. If applying for a remote or hybrid role, this includes remote work expectations related to confidentiality, information security, work schedules, conflicts of interest, and use of company equipment. I further acknowledge that outside employment or activities may not interfere with job responsibilities or create a conflict of interest with Intermountain. Actual or reasonably perceived conflicts may be grounds for disqualification from consideration or, if hired, corrective action up to and including termination of employment.

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.

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