(Text from streaming video release on RU Nursing Students Training Aboard Life Guard 10)
When an interstate accident injures several people critically, Carilion Health System’s Life Guard 10 helicopter is in the air to transport victims to the hospital. Many times, this flight means life and death to the patient. Radford University nursing students are learning how to use their skills as members of the unique crew aboard Life Guard 10. The class, Introduction to Air Care/Flight Nursing, and following internship provides the opportunity for senior nursing students to use their medical skills in the stabilization and transport of patients. For Brad Lee this is a dream come true.
Brad Lee/RU senior nursing student:
“I never thought I’d be able to do something like this. This is something that I’ve seen. I’ve done EMS and Rescue Squad for a couple of years before I came to college and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. This is a great opportunity to get to do it. It’s something I thought I wouldn’t do for many years down the road.”
Before students are invited to fly with the crew, they are required to complete extensive class work in RU’s nursing program.
Brad Lee:
“The program’s pretty intense. There’s not a lot of sleep. I’ve spent hours studying and a lot of hours going through clinicals. They prepare us in pediatrics, OB, critical care, med surge. We’re really well rounded. They cram a lot of material in a really short amount of time.”
Plus they take a specialized flight nursing class that concentrates on all nuances of caring for patients in flight while staying safe.
Then there’s the flight test…
BradLee :
“That was pretty interesting. We started in the ER here at Roanoke Memorial and were given a scenario about the patient. We had to solve different problems that we were presented with. Then we went to the top of the hospital where the helicopter was waiting and the manikin – our patient – and went for a flight. We had to continue to solve problems we were given in flight. It was pretty exciting, very interesting to do.”
Two RU students passed with flying colors and earned their spot on the team.
Krista Henderson ‘91/Flight Nurse:
“I think it’s wonderful. The students are good for us too. They’re excited to learn. They keep us on our toes. We learn from them just as much as they learn from us. I graduated from Radford in 1991 as a nursing student and I was here at the hospital living on site here. Every time I’d hear the helicopter, I’d run to the roof and look. I’d think gosh I’d give anything to go up there and hoped that I would be up there some day. To actually have moved to the point to have a program for students is really great.”
Krista Henderson:
“The students’ experience is generally observation only. However we do let them do a few procedures under the direction of the flight crew. It depends on the type of patient, the stability of the patient. The students go through so much training before hand that they are familiar with the equipment that we use.“
Brad looks forward to graduation and plunging into the healthcare field.
Brad Lee:
“Having taken this course, this internship, it will look really good when I apply for a job with an actual flight crew. They will know that I had aircraft safety and experience around a helicopter and I know this is what I want to do.”
Krista Henderson:
“This is really a good program. It’s good for the students and it’s good for us too and we love having them.”
April 15, 2002
Media contact: Ann Hillenbrand, (540) 831-5182