If you are interested in fast-paced medicine and saving lives, a career in transport nursing will get your blood pumping. A transport nurse provides on the scene care in emergency situations and then transports the patient to a hospital. This is a job that needs quick thinking and doing, requiring excellent training and instincts to successfully perform in stressful situations. This individual must be able to work well under pressure and make the right decision in an instant. For nurses who prefer a slower-paced work environment like home health nursing, this is night and day different. 

Besides having excellent training and intuition, communication skills are highly important in emergency situations. A transport nurse needs to effectively communicate with other medical staff any details about the patient and the condition they are suffering from. 

How Does A Transport Nurse Treat Patients?

A transport nurse provides medical care for patients who are en route to healthcare facilities like hospitals. This is a very life and death situation as a patient can easily die on the way to the hospital if their condition is not diagnosed correctly or managed while being transported. 

A transport nurse must quickly diagnose the patient’s condition and then provide treatment to keep the patient stable. The nurse may need to perform non-emergency and emergency procedures. These procedures may include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and intubation during medical emergencies. The nurse then needs to update the medical team upon arrival at the hospital. This is where effective communication is very important. Being able to give an update on the patient’s condition and what medications or treatments were given is very significant with the continuation of their care at the hospital. 

Skills Needed For Transport Nursing

The best transport nurse is quick and precise in their decisions and actions. These two skills are significant as they are not possessed by every individual or nurse. Emergency medicine-related careers are focused on providing on the spot care without much time to think about the course of treatment in comparison to a field like neurology, which requires a lot of time and consideration.

As mentioned previously, communication skills are necessary as transport nurses act as liaisons between the awaiting medical staff and themselves. Transport nurses must provide an update on everything about their patient’s condition, in a timely and efficient manner. This includes any medication administered, any procedures performed while en route, and any information about the patient’s history for this condition. Having a friendly and sympathetic disposition will also help calm down patients who are scared and confused. In emergency situations, the average person who isn’t a nurse is absolutely terrified and probably scared of dying. This is why being kind and sympathetic to your patient’s pain will calm them down and make it easier for you to treat them. 

Skills that would benefit a transport nurse:

• Being able to work in a high-stress environment
• Excellent communication skills
• Quick decision-making skills
• Being able to lift or move heavy objects 

How To Become A Transport Nurse

To become a transport nurse, the individual must first become a registered nurse. They need to take and pass the NCLEX-RN examination to practice medicine. Then to become a certified transport nurse, you will need to take the Certified Transport Registered Nurse Examination. This test will be given by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. Bypassing this, the nurse receives certification for flight nursing as well as emergency nursing. Before working as a transport nurse, it is helpful to have previous experience in the emergency room, a trauma center, or an intensive care unit. By going to additional training classes and seminars offered in emergency medicine, you will be better prepared for any emergency situation that may come your way. 

Where Do They Work? 

A transport nurse can work in multiple settings, this can include hospitals and clinics, in addition to other places that require transport nursing. Nursing homes are another place that likely requires this type of emergency medicine, for patients who are often having health concerns, such as seniors. It is even possible to work in the military, such as on aircraft’s to provide medical care in situations that more traditional nursing roles may not be able to provide.