Spotlight: Tony L. Smith, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, CFRN, NREMT
LifetFlight
Flight Nurse
Type of project: Program Evaluation
Title of project: Flight Paramedic to Flight Nurse: A Pilot Program
Co-workers involved in this project: Shala Horton, ADN, NREMT-P, CCRN and Jeanne Yeatman, MBA, BSN, RN
Description of project: This program was developed and implemented to assist with the transition of the flight paramedic, who has achieved his/her nursing degree, in becoming a flight nurse. The state requirements differ between a flight paramedic and a flight nurse. This program was structured to meet not only state requirements but the industry standards. The pilot mirrored the current VUMC nurse residency, however after "placement" the medic-nurse pilot was tailored to fit the state experience requirements.
Why you chose this project: At the time of implementation there were no best practices identified for this type of career transition.
Presentations:
- Flight Paramedic to Flight Nurse: A Pilot Program - Air Medical Transport Conference, Seattle, WA. October 23, 2012. (Podium)
- Flight Paramedic to Flight Nurse: A Pilot Program - VUMC Nurses' Week Research Poster Session, May 3, 2013. (Poster)
Future plans: Tony is in the process of writing a manuscript on the results of this pilot, and will submit for publication in the near future.
If you have any questions about Tony's project he can be reached via email at tony.smith@vanderbilt.edu