medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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I was looking through some of the recent discussions on this forum, and I noticed that like all of EMS and medicine, the flight orientation process seems to be pretty different at different places. I'm curious for those flight providers on this forum, what was your orientation process at your company like? In addition, what type of company do you work for (fixed or rotor wing, scene or IFT, private or government)?
For those looking to get into flight medicine, this may provide some insight into what they can expect when they are starting out.
I've been off orientation for about a month, but where I work the orientation process is pretty similar for almost everybody (though may change slightly based on previous experience). I work at a not-for-profit, hospital based, rotor wing service that does both IFT and scene responses. Our orientation process is around 4-6 months, full-time. It generally is as follows:
For approximately the 1st month, you are primarily doing classes and clinicals. You cycle through OR, ER, PICU, L&D, and NICU, and have to obtain 10 intubations prior to intubating in the field. If you need extra hours for the week, you'll spend time on flight shifts.
For the next 3-5 months, you'll be doing flight shifts full time, with the exception of some weeks where there are extra classes, clinicals, etc. We do pediatric OR time for pediatric intubations, and simulation almost weekly for the first few weeks. While on flight shifts, you'll also do aviation training, night-vision training and validations, online training, equipment training, and community outreach. All throughout orientation, you'll be riding as a third medical member, with more and more responsibility as time goes on. Finally, we do surgical skills training, and water egress training.
In order to come off of orientation, you must have done 25 intubations (10 of which can be from previous experience prior to flight), been signed off on approximately 9 modules, and have a simulation "test-out" with the medical director. Once everything is done, you become a full member of the flight crew and no longer ride as a third. I did approximately 35-45 flights or ground transports during my orientation. Overall, it was one of the best orientation processes I've ever been through.
For those looking to get into flight medicine, this may provide some insight into what they can expect when they are starting out.
I've been off orientation for about a month, but where I work the orientation process is pretty similar for almost everybody (though may change slightly based on previous experience). I work at a not-for-profit, hospital based, rotor wing service that does both IFT and scene responses. Our orientation process is around 4-6 months, full-time. It generally is as follows:
For approximately the 1st month, you are primarily doing classes and clinicals. You cycle through OR, ER, PICU, L&D, and NICU, and have to obtain 10 intubations prior to intubating in the field. If you need extra hours for the week, you'll spend time on flight shifts.
For the next 3-5 months, you'll be doing flight shifts full time, with the exception of some weeks where there are extra classes, clinicals, etc. We do pediatric OR time for pediatric intubations, and simulation almost weekly for the first few weeks. While on flight shifts, you'll also do aviation training, night-vision training and validations, online training, equipment training, and community outreach. All throughout orientation, you'll be riding as a third medical member, with more and more responsibility as time goes on. Finally, we do surgical skills training, and water egress training.
In order to come off of orientation, you must have done 25 intubations (10 of which can be from previous experience prior to flight), been signed off on approximately 9 modules, and have a simulation "test-out" with the medical director. Once everything is done, you become a full member of the flight crew and no longer ride as a third. I did approximately 35-45 flights or ground transports during my orientation. Overall, it was one of the best orientation processes I've ever been through.
