Lesson in flight nursing

[cougarnurse]

For all you who are presently in the field, or want to be: Lesson in flight nursing : MyLife : Memphis Commercial Appeal

The medical flight team Hospital Wing landed on the Senatobia campus of Northwest Mississippi Community College recently to speak with students in the practical nursing program.

Hospital Wing is a nonprofit air medical transport, which provides inter-hospital transfers as well as emergency scene calls, according to flight nurse Triana Hudson.

"This visit was beneficial for our students because they were able to learn about this exciting profession as a possible career path," said Jennifer Davis, RN, practical nursing instructor.

Hudson said being a flight nurse is very rewarding. "The first time in a helicopter flying to the scene of an accident can be very intimidating, but when you arrive, your adrenaline kicks in and you know what to do. You don't think about it, and afterward is when you start shaking."

Hospital Wing has bases in Oxford, Memphis and Brownsville, Ark. The flight team visiting Northwest was from Oxford. "We transport an average of 150 patients per month with 60 percent being trauma related," said flight paramedic Bert Stallings.

Hospital Wing owns four Eurocopter Astar (AS350B3) helicopters equipped to transport critically ill and injured patients.

Hospital Wing pilots must have 3,000 hours total flight time with 2,000 helicopter hours as a pilot in command, according to Hudson.

For more information about Hospital Wing, visit hospitalwing.com.

For more information about the Practical Nursing program at Northwest, call (662) 562-3370.