By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Working in Critical Care Transport as a Nurse
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Working in Critical Care Transport as a Nurse
Specialties

Working in Critical Care Transport as a Nurse

Michael J Jones
Last updated: December 1, 2015 3:36 pm
Michael J Jones
Share
5 Min Read
Working in Critical Care Transport as a Nurse
SHARE

Working in Critical Care Transport as a NurseThere are a lot of different nursing specialties to consider. If you’re someone who thrives on working in a fast-paced environment and want to care for seriously ill or injured patients, working as a critical care transport nurse may be something to think about.

Working in Critical Care Transport as a NurseThere are a lot of different nursing specialties to consider. If you’re someone who thrives on working in a fast-paced environment and want to care for seriously ill or injured patients, working as a critical care transport nurse may be something to think about.

Critical care transport nurses work in both air and ground transport. For instance, they may work aboard a helicopter, small airplane, or ground ambulance. Nurses may care for patients who need to be transported to a hospital from a remote location. They may also transport critically ill patients from one facility to another.

Responsibilities of Critical Care Transport Nurses

More Read

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Why Professionals Recommend Facelifts Above Other Techniques
Why Pregnant Women Should Consider Chiropractic Treatment
5 Ways To Be Supportive Of A Partner With Low Testosterone
How to Use the Multiplier App

Patients requiring emergency transport are often unstable. Nurses in critical care transport treat a wide variety of patients, including people involved in car accidents, falls, assaults and other types of trauma. Patients who also require immediate transport include those suffering from medical conditions, such as a stroke or heart attack.

A transport nurse needs to work fast to perform an assessment and provide immediate care to stabilize the patient. Nurses monitor vitals, perform EKGs and other quick diagnostic tests to determine the best course of treatment. Tasks performed by transport nurses include starting intravenous lines, administering medication, and controlling bleeding. Life-saving interventions, such as intubation and CPR, are also sometimes needed.

Training and Education

Critical care transport nurses must have advanced skills and certifications. In addition to being licensed as a registered nurse, some companies prefer to hire nurses with a BSN degree.

Most critical care transport positions require nurses to have certain certifications, such as advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, and neonatal resuscitation. Some companies may also prefer to hire nurses who also hold an EMT or paramedic certification.

The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing also offers certifications, which can increase your marketability. There are a few different options available. Nurses who primarily work in air transport should consider becoming a certified flight registered nurse. Those who do ground transport may want to pursue the certified registered nurse credential.

Additional requirements may vary depending on the company you work for. For instance, air transport companies may have additional requirements including weight restrictions due to safety concerns.

Opportunities and Salary

Most critical care transport nurses work for medical centers or ground ambulance companies. Air ambulance companies also hire critical care transport nurses, although positions may be harder to come by.

Because working in critical care transport can be exciting, it is a sought after job, and competition can be tough. The more credentials and experience you have, the better your chances are of landing a position.

Salaries for critical care transport nurses may vary based on experience, credentials and geographic area. According to Salary.com, currently, the average salary for transport nurses in the United States is about $72,000 a year.

Pros and Cons

If you are considering working in critical care transport, it may help to weigh the pros and cons. On the positive side, critical care transport nurses play a crucial role in saving people’s lives. At the end of a long workday, it can be rewarding to know you made a difference.

Every day may be different in the life of a critical care transport nurse, which can keep the job fresh and interesting. If you enjoy the adrenaline rush of dealing with emergency situations, critical care transport may be a good choice.

On the flip side, the work may be physically demanding. Lifting patients, carrying equipment and crouching over in an ambulance or helicopter is a routine part of the job. Long shifts, such as 12 or 24 shifts, may make for a long work day.

While the work can be gratifying, it may also be emotionally draining. Critical care transport nurse witness tragic situations. Although they are focused on providing medical care, nurses are still human and situations can be heartbreaking.

—————————–

References

The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. Get Certified.  https://www.bcencertifications.org/Get-Certified/CTRN.aspx  Accessed June 2015.

TAGGED:ambulanceCritically Illnursingtransport nurse
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Medical EducationNewsPublic HealthSpecialties

How to Communicate with Patients When Words Won’t Work

July 14, 2014

Things Aren’t Always As They May Seem: The Challenge of Diagnosing and Treating Cardiovascular Disease in Women

August 26, 2012

What Doctors Should Know About Symptoms & Dangers of Concussions

December 31, 2015
Hospital AdministrationMedical Education

How to Make More With Your Job in Nursing

December 16, 2017
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?