2 answers
Lorelei
Student
1
Question
Asked
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I want to become either a flight nurse or a flight medic. What are the best ways to get to this pathway?
I have been bouncing between a nursing degree or a paramedic degree, but cannot figure out which path would be better
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2 answers
Janice Armour
Registered Nurse
3
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Janice’s Answer
I think the best way to answer your question is to first ask yourself: What is it that you ultimately want to do, and what are your career goals? Nursing and being an EMT/paramedic are two different career paths, although both can lead to working in the flight medicine field.
If your goal is to become a flight nurse, you would generally need to earn your BSN and obtain your RN license. From there, you would typically need at least one year of acute-care experience, although many flight programs prefer several years of experience. Getting experience in an inpatient hospital setting, particularly in the ICU, CCU, or ER, can help prepare you and make you eligible for flight nurse positions.
If your goal is to become a flight medic, the pathway is different. You would generally start by becoming an EMT, gain field experience, and then complete an accredited paramedic program to become a licensed paramedic. From there, you can work toward gaining the experience and qualifications needed for a flight medic position.
Ultimately, the requirements can vary depending on where you want to work, since each state and country may have different education, certification, licensing, and experience requirements.
Good luck on your journey into the medical field! It’s an exciting path, and I hope you find the career that best fits your goals and passion. ❤️
If your goal is to become a flight nurse, you would generally need to earn your BSN and obtain your RN license. From there, you would typically need at least one year of acute-care experience, although many flight programs prefer several years of experience. Getting experience in an inpatient hospital setting, particularly in the ICU, CCU, or ER, can help prepare you and make you eligible for flight nurse positions.
If your goal is to become a flight medic, the pathway is different. You would generally start by becoming an EMT, gain field experience, and then complete an accredited paramedic program to become a licensed paramedic. From there, you can work toward gaining the experience and qualifications needed for a flight medic position.
Ultimately, the requirements can vary depending on where you want to work, since each state and country may have different education, certification, licensing, and experience requirements.
Good luck on your journey into the medical field! It’s an exciting path, and I hope you find the career that best fits your goals and passion. ❤️
Jeffery Teeters, NRP, FP-C
Paramedic
1
Answer
Bronaugh, MO
Updated
Jeffery’s Answer
Neither one is “better.” They’re very different careers, even though they overlap medically.
If you want more career options, generally better pay, more predictable working conditions, and the ability to move between specialties like ER, ICU, flight, OR, pediatrics, administration, etc., nursing probably gives you the broader path.
If you want to work in an uncontrolled environment, be the person making decisions with limited resources, handle emergencies from the first few minutes, and you like the autonomy and unpredictability of prehospital medicine, paramedicine may fit you better.
I’d also think about what kind of work actually makes you feel alive. Do you want a patient for 12 hours and get to see the progression of their care, or do you want 20–60 minutes with somebody on potentially the worst day of their life, figure out what’s killing them, stabilize them, and hand them off?
And don’t choose paramedic because it seems like the faster or easier route. It can be an incredible career, but the pay, sleep disruption, physical wear, and burnout can be brutal depending on where you work.
If you genuinely can’t decide, nursing probably keeps more doors open. But if you read all of that and the ambulance part is still screaming at you, you probably already know your answer.
If you want more career options, generally better pay, more predictable working conditions, and the ability to move between specialties like ER, ICU, flight, OR, pediatrics, administration, etc., nursing probably gives you the broader path.
If you want to work in an uncontrolled environment, be the person making decisions with limited resources, handle emergencies from the first few minutes, and you like the autonomy and unpredictability of prehospital medicine, paramedicine may fit you better.
I’d also think about what kind of work actually makes you feel alive. Do you want a patient for 12 hours and get to see the progression of their care, or do you want 20–60 minutes with somebody on potentially the worst day of their life, figure out what’s killing them, stabilize them, and hand them off?
And don’t choose paramedic because it seems like the faster or easier route. It can be an incredible career, but the pay, sleep disruption, physical wear, and burnout can be brutal depending on where you work.
If you genuinely can’t decide, nursing probably keeps more doors open. But if you read all of that and the ambulance part is still screaming at you, you probably already know your answer.
Thank you so much! I’ve been leaning towards crit care nursing, but I am getting my EMT license as a senior in high school and am really enjoying it. I would definitely prefer the flexibility (and better pay) of nursing as well.
Lorelei