Specialty in Critical Care Transport
Advanced Practice Nurses with a Flight Specialty utilize ground and aeromedical transport services to provide high quality acute, critical and emergent care to patients. While inter-facility transfers are most common, Advanced Practice Critical Care Transport Nurses also deliver care in unstructured, pre-hospital environments such as along the roadside at the scene of an accident, at natural and/or manmade disaster sites and remote environments.
Program Highlights
- We are leading the way in educating others on the utilization of nurse practitioners in critical care transport. Through strategic partnerships with faculty and select programs that integrate nurse practitioners into their provider delivery model, we embody a pioneering approach that showcases our commitment to innovation and excellence.
- Students in this specialty use our unique aeromedical helicopter and ambulance simulators in both classroom and scenario-based labs to learn how to deliver safe, effective care during transport.
- Students will complete a clinical practicum, a portion of which will be with an aeromedical transport team.
- Opportunities to participate in teaching and research to promote evidence-based practice in the pre-/inter-hospital medical transport environments are also available.
- The Flight Specialty can be built as part of our DNP Program with AG-ACNP or ACNP certification
Pathways to the Flight Certificate
The School of Nursing offers two pathways to obtaining your flight certificate: FPB’s MSN AG-ACNP with flight added or FPB DNP or PhD Program with flight added.
- Apply to the MSN program
- Flight Specialty courses and individualized clinical experiences build on our Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program. The Flight Specialty program is a subspecialty requiring an additional 6-12 credits for completion.
- A minimum one year of critical care nursing experience is required prior to enrolling in clinical courses for the A-G ACNP program.
- Complete NURS 407, NURS 402, NURS 403, and practicum NURS 523 in addition to the AG-ACNP degree requirements.
- Students with an AG-ACNP certification or licensure seeking the DNP or PhD degree are ideal candidates for our program.
- Practicum hours completed during NURS 523 will count toward the 1000 hour requirement of the DNP.
- Students in the DNP program at CWRU without acute care certification or licensure are considered on an individual basis for acceptance.
- Opportunities are available to complete your DNP or PhD research studies in the field of critical care transport.
Already have your AG-ACNP degree or enrolled in another MSN Acute Care NP Program?
- Apply as a non-degree student for the flight certificate during the last clinical semester OR following certification and state licensure.
- Complete NURS 407, NURS 402, NURS 403, and practicum NURS 523
Fall Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
|
NUNP 438^ |
Foundations for Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nursing | 4 |
| NURS 453 | Advanced Pathophysiology | 4 |
| NURS 459 | Advanced Physical Assessment | 3 |
| NURS 444B* | Health Care Delivery and Finance in Advanced Practice | 1 |
| Total | 12 |
Spring Semester I
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| NURS 430 | Advanced Pharmacology | 3 |
| NUNP 443^ | Acute Health Problems of Adults and Older Adults | 6 |
| NURS 405* | Inquiry - Theoretical Foundations | 2 |
| NURS 444A | Ethical Issues in Advanced Nursing | 1 |
| **NURS 407 | Nurse Practitioner Role in Critical Care Transport | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
Summer Semester II: Flight Nursing Summer Camp & Classes
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| NURS 425 | Inquiry II - Research Process | 3 |
| NURS 451* | Leadership for Quality Healthcare within Organizations and Systems | 3 |
| **NURS 402 | Fundamental of Critical Care Transport | 1 |
| Total | 7 |
Fall Semester II
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| NURS 502* | Inquiry III - Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| NUNP 444^ | Advanced Management of Acutely Ill Adults and Older Adults | 4 |
| NURS 444C* | Health Policy, Legislation and Legal Issues in Advanced Practice | 1 |
| NURS 431* | Psychosocial and Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Nursing Practice | 2 |
| **NURS 403 | Advanced Concepts of Critical Care Transport | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Additional Required Classes (taken after completing the MSN)
| Course ID | Course Title | Credits |
| **NURS 523^ | Advanced Practice Nursing in Critical Care Transport Practicum | 1-5 |
| Total | 1-5 |
Accumulated Total Hours: 44-48
Note: The above curriculum is full-time; part-time plans are also available. The Advanced Practice Core courses (NURS 430, 453, 459) are co-requisites or pre-requisites for clinical nursing courses. Clinical nursing courses must be taken in the semester and sequence listed above. Clinical course availability is based upon enrollment.
* = Intensive Course, see MSN Intensives general schedule online for more information
** = Flight nursing specialty
^ = Clinical Course