Nurse III, Airmed

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

Job Family

Nursing: Nursing provides patient care, promotes health, prevents illness and supports positive patient care outcomes through comprehensive care and patient advocacy.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Job Subfamily

Flight nurses provide specialized, critical care in critical care and pre-hospital emergency care. Flight nurses provide a high level of clinical expertise in challenging environments. They assess, stabilize and treat patients during transport, administer medication, perform advanced life support procedures and monitor patient condition and outcomes while en-route to a hospital or other care facility.

Career Level

N3: Provides care for patients with complex problems and less predictable outcomes. Serves as a clinical resource and mentors Clinical Nurse I/II staff. Participates in education and staff development. Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge and critical thinking. Applies evidence-based practice to complex, high acuity patient care. Leads care for patients with multifaceted needs. Coordinates interdisciplinary care and contributes to progressive care planning. Functions independently. Provides consultative support and mentors peers. May lead clinical training or orientation. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams. Resolves conflicts and supports team development through leadership and role modeling.

Essential Functions

• Practices independently in a fast paced, unpredictable transport environment, including remote or austere settings, and operates without N2 limitations while maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment for patients and crew.
• Applies flight physiology and advanced clinical judgment to complex transport cases, including polytrauma, complex pediatric patients, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) transports, serving as a resource for specialized devices and therapies.
• Evaluates accident scenes, performs initial patient triage, identifies subtle changes in condition, and re prioritizes and escalates care in accordance with AirMed guidelines.
• Provides direct patient care during extrication and transport, performing assessments and interventions within protocol and consulting senior clinicians or medical control as needed.
• Assists with search and assist operations, patient lifting, and transfers using appropriate equipment, and supports safe aircraft loading and unloading in accordance with safety procedures and Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles.
• Demonstrates effective Crew Resource Management (CRM) and communicates patient status changes succinctly to the transport team and receiving facility.
• Completes required patient documentation and participates in peer review, committee work, and outreach or landing zone (LZ) instruction in accordance with participation and attendance requirements.
• Supports onboarding and training by observing and assisting with basic instruction of new staff under supervision.
• Maintains continuing education related to transport-specific CAMTS requirements (Advanced-airway, Altitude physiology, transport equipment, highway scene safety, EMS, multi trauma, pediatric critical care and quality management).
• Works rotating schedules, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and maintains reliable and punctual attendance to meet 24/7 AirMed coverage needs.

Qualifications

Required

Five (5) years of critical care experience including one of the following:

• Two (2) years ICU and one (1) year ER (Minimum of 4000 hrs ALS experience), or
• Successful completion of the AirMed Flight Paramedic to Flight Nurse Transition Program.

Completion of each of the following within one (1) year of hire:

• Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) or Burn Education equivalent.
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) or Advanced Trauma course equivalent.
• CFRN, CEN, CCRN, or CTRN.
• Completion of required FEMA certifications within 90 days of hire.
• Weight of equal to or less than 215 lbs. fully dressed for flight duty.

Licenses Required

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider ALS eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The ALS eCredential is to be obtained within 90 days of hire
• Current RQI Healthcare Provider PALS eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The PALS eCredential is to be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Current Neonatal Resuscitation Certification to be obtained within 90 days of hire.
• Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Preferred

• Previous experience on an air transport team.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intensive work that my exert up to 100 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, such as medical equipment, or patients while providing medical care. Workers in this position are subject the hazards of air flight and environmental conditions at the scene of patient pick up. Workers are required to function in close quarters and are subject to loud noise.
• To ensure that the employee can meet the essential functions as well as the technical working conditions and physical demands, the employee must annually complete a fit-for-duty assessment conducted by an occupational health physician in the employee wellness center.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Tasting or Smelling, Walking