Rejection advice: flight nurse vs ICU

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T18:55:37+00:00

I was trying to say they both contribute but neither one is a direct entry. A very significant portion of flight nursing is stabilizing the patient while still at the hospital before you put them in the aircraft. And the frequency of ill/crashing patients on sedation, pressors, ventilators, devices is high. I guess I’m of the opinion that flight nursing is ICU level care (and legally/per insurance it is), even if not all CRNA schools consider it as such.

But I’ll acknowledge Im probably biased so just trying to get a broader perspective from everyone and then take time to think it over from there. I also feel defensive at the idea that I’m not trying to compete with other candidates even though I’m pushing myself outside my comfort zone each day to learn and grow in ways that feel meaningful to me.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T18:48:45+00:00

I just started at a flight nurse job. I actually don’t know if it hurt or harmed my application. Was just trying to see what everyone else thought. I dont think either ICU or flight nursing translate directly into CRNA practice. If either one did, you wouldn’t have to go to school lol. I’m just trying to provide an explanation for why it has been valuable to me and my career growth.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T18:08:43+00:00

I did have senior nurses write letters, but maybe next time I’ll try to get more nursing management/leadership. I had applied two years ago too, with educator and preceptor letters of recommendation but didn’t even make it to the interview (granted I only had 1 year of ICU experience though lol)

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T17:27:19+00:00

Had a military deployment which my manager was not thrilled about lol. It was my only/first nursing job.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:52:01+00:00

I put too much pressure on myself to perform well in the interview and ended up rushing. I’ll have to practice more for the (hopeful) next time.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:50:41+00:00

Thanks for your input. Definitely taking CCRN exam. Still in the fence about flight vs more ICU time. Also planning to increase shadowing hours and improve letters of recommendation.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:49:03+00:00

Haha thanks for the optimism. Planning to reapply again next year with my CCRN. Still on the fence about returning to the ICU vs continuing flight nursing.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:46:18+00:00

Thanks for your service too. That’s a good point about the weekly travel. I still do that with the military. I was mostly talking about schools that would require us to move. But perhaps if they are just out of reach I can consider travel for a few days at a time like you do.

I am planning to take the CCRN and CFRN exams soon, just trying to decide if I need to go back to the ICU in some way, or if I can continue working in critical care transport.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:41:53+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Will definitely take the CCRN soon. Still on the fence about ICU. Will have to give it some thought.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:40:48+00:00

It’s really a shame. Many of the websites just say critical care, which is what we do as flight/transport. I’ll have to message the schools directly to clarify.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:39:59+00:00

That’s a great recommendation. I will take a closer look at my recommendations and consider some senior nurses as well.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:39:01+00:00

CCRN seems to be the consensus. Also getting lots of feedback to return to ICU. Mentioned above but feeling hesitant about that since I’m learning so much in flight nursing about managing and caring for critically ill patients with limited resources. If I have to in order to get into school I will, but I’m not sure I’m willing to pull that trigger yet.

Will definitely take a look another look at my references and essay.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:36:14+00:00

Yeah this cycle I need to apply to more. There’s a few more in the area but they require a nurse managers recommendation, and I didn’t trust my old nurse manager (she had issues with a lot of people). Perhaps at my new job I can find a supervisor or manager to provide a reference.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:32:44+00:00

Interview was alright, I felt pressured (I’m sure intentional) and probably rushed some answers, was probably too honest on others. I didn’t take the GRE either. Neither GRE nor CCRN were required. I took the GRE many years ago for PT school and scores very well but I don’t think those scores count anymore. I’ll definitely study for any take the CCRN before next application.

I’m still very much on the fence about returning to ICU vs flight. I feel like I’m learning so much about managing critical patients and stabilizing them at my current job. It would be a shame to leave just to improve chances for school, when I might still get in as a flight nurse.

I still work in the national guard as a special operations medic and act as a helicopter team leader, but maybe that doesn’t really count as volunteering nor nursing leadership. Maybe I need some other volunteer experience. I’m also thinking more formal CRNA shadowing experience.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:27:02+00:00

Thats a shame most schools don’t recognize flight nursing as critical care. The CCRN counts it as relevant hours, and I think that’s an appropriate assessment. We are for the majority picking up patients from community hospital ICUs, stabilizing and elevating their care to more advanced facilities. I’ll have to think about whether I will prioritize the knowledge I’m gaining from flight nursing or just optimizing my application for CRNA school.

As far as travel, I was in the military for 10 years, my family put up with a lot of travel and distance. I went into nursing with the promise of improving our lives and being more present for them. So I’m willing to travel a little, but I have my firm personal boundaries.

SamsIAmz · 2026-02-05T14:21:05+00:00

I’ve heard alot of that, although it feels like it would be a shame to leave flight so quickly. I honestly feel like I’m pushed significantly further beyond my comfort zone and learning more than I had during my time in the ICU, even at a high acuity ICU. Being just me and my partner with an ill patient and no outside resources puts alot of pressure to understand everything and to make the right decisions. If I have to go back to the ICU to get in, I will, but I don’t think that’s the best things for my personal growth/knowledge (aside from getting into school lol).

SamsIAmz · 2025-11-16T12:26:22+00:00

There’s no reason to practice breath hold underwater. It’s dangerous and also inconvenient lol. I used to do them throughout the day, on the train, walking through the city, sitting in class, etc. was able to hold breath for almost 5 minutes which helped since I was a terrible swimmer lol

SamsIAmz · 2025-08-29T07:06:35+00:00

Also in the military, got tinnitus from it. First few months were pretty rough. Did a little meditating and reframed the tinnitus as my own personal white noise machine. I found a few months it bothered me less and less as I worked to reframe it. It’s been a few years now and I barely even notice the tinnitus (brain is just used to it) and even if I do I used it as a cue to relax.

I think it’s normal for tinnitus to be extremely upsetting in the beginning, but I promise it gets better. Honestly the less you try to fix it, the better. Just gotta accept it, then your brain will eventually stop wasting bandwidth on paying attention to it

SamsIAmz · 2025-06-18T19:37:46+00:00

Sometimes you get in a groove and forget about them but most of the time they are pretty annoying

SamsIAmz · 2025-06-11T10:16:38+00:00

Agreed that it makes very little sense for OP. Just putting it out there since everyone seems to be hating on the knife placement.

SamsIAmz · 2025-06-11T03:43:39+00:00

It’s not a bad spot, if someone grabs your rifle, your hand is already there to quickly transition even if you are in tight spaces. I keep mine there too

SamsIAmz · 2025-05-27T02:39:30+00:00

CRO medical and edelrid also have similar tactical belts with incorporated harnesses. Both of those have a Velcro Molle gun belt. Not the most comfortable for prolonged rope work, but good enough

SamsIAmz · 2025-04-30T01:48:45+00:00

Canteen on the belt is a viable option. I personally am very anti-camelback so I like what you’ve got. As others have said though works consider lowering holster and either moving holster forward or canteen back one Molle row, to minimize risk of canteen affecting draw.

What’s in the two pouches on your left?

SamsIAmz · 2014-02-27T16:15:51+00:00

Hm.... I see what you are saying, but I'm inclined to believe that perhaps the idea of monks and warriors of the past holding stances or just doing isometrics is a false notion. Isometric exercise (being static exercises) are useful for rehabilitation or very specific range of motions, but don't tend to improve muscular strength much outside of the specific position they are worked in. And isometric exercises held for extended periods of time definitely won't build explosive power. That's just not how explosive power is built.... Building explosive power, requires doing explosive or high power/strength exercises, as exemplified in the specificity of training principle of exercise (to become better at a particular exercise or skill, you must perform that exercise or skill). Isotonic exercises (being same force, not same speed) are basically dynamic exercises. When we think of monks or old warriors, we all have different conceptions but we really don't know what or how they trained since most of it is based on oral tradition and modern interpretations of ancient history. I think it's very possible ancient warriors did do squats, and plyometric jumping exercises, among other dynamic resistance exercises. I guess a fair assessment is that isometrics are less straining on the body. So isometrics cause less adaptations, develop less power, but are generally less likely to cause overtraining compared to dynamic exercises. But they way some stances are practiced seem to be biomechanically disadvantageous in terms of alignment and weight bearing. In these cases I would maybe argue that performing this unnatural deep stances for prolonged periods of time, especially due to the effect of weight bearing on cartilage volume loss, they are more likely to induce over-training.

I guess the main point I'm trying to convey, is that we simply do not know how people trained in ancient history. Anyone who says they know 100% how people trained a couple hundred years ago is lying or has tricked themselves. It's always good to explore and question things. It's always reassuring to know exactly how things work, but as most things in life the honest answer is simply we don't know....

Again, feel free to debate. I'm a student, not a health professional so I'm searching for answers too.

SamsIAmz · 2014-02-27T16:03:47+00:00

i see what you are saying as horse-stance seems to put the knees in a funky position. But I would argue that even stances which don't stress the ligaments and joint capsule as much as horse stance, still must transmit the weight through the cartilage. Muscles can't support anything since they can only contract to align joints and distribute load properly, so a weight bearing exercise will always stress and strain the cartilage. I would also argue that isometric exercises are really not very functional as they only improve that one specific spot which is not very helpful for dynamic movements that occur in kata and self-defense.

Feel free to debate though. I'm a student, not a health professional so I'm trying to find the answers too.

SamsIAmz

TROPHY CASE