by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
The inability to access lavatories on single-aisle planes has lead an advocacy group to file a lawsuit against the federal department of Transportation (DOT). The lawsuit seeks to force the DOT to mandate that airlines make lavatories wheelchair accessible for disabled travelers.
It’s a change that those with disabilities have waited on for more than 30 years. Requiring single-aisle planes to have accessible lavatories was envisioned in the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act.
Disabled Travelers Lawsuit
James Thomas Wheaton, the veteran who leads the Paralyzed Veterans of America organization that filed the lawsuit, told USA Today he has spent three decades hoping that DOT would make the change. He said the inability to use the bathroom during long flights is “a horrific feeling. In my 30 years of being disabled, I feel the most paralyzed and the most limited in those settings.”
Wheaton was paralyzed after getting hit by a drunk driver while serving with the Navy in Australia.
Bathroom Issues
For those without disabilities, it’s difficult to imagine the discomfort and pain for disabled travelers who cannot use the bathroom.
Most domestic flights use single-aisle planes, so without handicapped-accessible bathrooms, disabled travelers are forced to wait until the plane lands and everyone disembarks before they can get to an accessible bathroom in the airport.
It’s a terrible experience. Two-thirds of those surveyed by the DOT on the issue in 2016 said that it’s enough to make them avoid flying entirely.
As it stands, it’s difficult to maneuver to the bathrooms even while using an onboard wheelchair designed for the narrow aisle. There are raised bumps on the threshold of the lavatory that are hard to cross. Also, bathroom doors tend to face each other across a narrow aisle, making it hard to maneuver.
Airline Issues
For airlines, expanding the size of onboard lavatories to make them wheelchair accessible would require an investment of money and a loss of space in the plane cabin.
Representatives of the airlines have told Congress that expanding the bathrooms could cost them three passenger seats in the cabin, leading to a loss of $33 billion over the next 25 years, according to USA Today.
There’s been inaction on the issue by the federal government. The Trump Administration has suspended the creation of new regulations pending review of ones proposed during the Obama Administration.
On its website, the Paralyzed Veterans of America urges members to contact their representatives on several related issues. They include formation of a disabled traveler’s bill of rights and harsher penalties for those who injure disabled travelers or break their wheelchairs.
Both things happen with regularity, according to the advocacy group.The organization states that while some changes have been made to help the disabled on flights, “It’s clear that more must be done.”
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
An airline nurse provides care for patients during every phase of air transportation. While salaries for the position vary based on many factors, including years of experience and level of education, the average salary for airline nurses across the United States is $82,207 according to Salary.com.
Across the country, airline nurses typically have salaries that range between $73,000 and $92,000. However, it is often found that airline nurses or associated medical transport professionals are paid on a per diem basis vs. a salary.
What An Airline Nurse Does
In many ways, the job of an airline nurse mirrors that of an emergency room nurse.
Nurses who work in an ER must manage diverse types of patients suffering from a wide variety of illness and injuries. They are trained to make fast, smart decisions in an often-frenetic environment.
Many airline nurses have years of experience working in an emergency room. The skills gained there help them better perform their job as an airline nurse.
An airline nurse has many responsibilities. They assess a patient’s condition before traveling. Then, they develop a transport plan to get the patient to their destination safely. They also work with airline personnel to make the trip through the airport as easy as possible. They may also coordinate ground transportation on both ends of the trip.
Most importantly, they are specially trained to provide quality care to patients during the flight. They have expertise in the details of providing medical care while thousands of feet in the air.
An airline nurse can work in emergency situations. However, many also work with patients who are ill or have had injuries but must still take a flight. Others also work with older or chronically ill patients who require professional medical care while taking a flight.
Salary Differences By Region
Location is a key component of salary in all professions. The online salary aggregator site Salary.com allows you to look at places where some of the highest salaries are available for an airline nurse. As with most professions, the highest salaries are in California and the Northeast.
Some of the highest salaries are in counties that include the following cities:
- San Francisco ($100,525)
- San Jose ($99,735)
- New York City ($99,471)
- Boston ($93,911)
- Los Angeles ($92,411)
Others area where salaries are above average include Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Miami.
Many factors other than location play a role in salary. They include years of experience in both emergency rooms and as an airline nurse, Also, the level of college degree attained and certifications earned play a role. Higher salaries also are typically given for positions in management.
Growth in the field continues as more people become aware of the benefits of medical transport service. For nurses, it offers an exciting opportunity outside the typical environments of a hospital, physician’s office or long-term care home.
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
The idea of patient advocacy has been around for many years. In the past, a patient advocate usually meant a member of the family, a good friend or perhaps a clergyman or pastor.
The idea is to have a person who advocates on your behalf with doctors, nurses and other medical staff.
Family members, friends and others can still fulfill this role. However, it long ago became a position held by many medical professionals.
Get Help Leaving the Hospital After Discharge
What Does A Patient Advocate Do
Most associate professional patient advocates with hospital stays. Advocates in those positions do offer a good example of the fundamental services that an advocate provides for a patient.
For example, they closely monitor the patient’s well-being, both physical and emotional, and give them an opportunity to discuss those issues. A patient advocate acts as a liaison between the patient and medical staff.
In general, they help cut through red tape and get patients what they need. They act as a supporter, promoter and spokesperson. It’s a key position to help people get better medical care, and it leads to better patient outcomes.
In Medical Transport
Patient advocates also play a role in medical transport. Usually the job is much more broad and complex than those who work in hospitals.
In medical transport, the patient advocate is a flight nurse, such as those on staff with Flying Angels. They are trained in emergency room work. They know how to handle medical treatment, even at 35,000 feet. They also play a key role as an advocate.
Medical Transportation Options Explained
A flight nurse works with disabled patients, ensuring they have adequate transport to and from the airport. In the airport itself, they make sure that patients have the services they need to make them as comfortable as possible through the boarding procedure.
During the flight, the patient advocate works with the flight crew. They make sure patients have the space they need. They also carry the medications they need and work with the flight crew for anything additional they might require in flight.
They are by the patient’s side throughout the entire experience. And because of their training and experience, they make the entire process that much easier for patients as well as their family.
Flight Nurse Duties On A Commercial Airline
Why You Need One
As the above shows, having a patient advocate provides a great deal of comfort for those who feel they will need assistance while flying.
This can include those flying for medical treatment in a faraway city. But it also includes those who simply are traveling for a fun vacation or to visit family. If they feel they will need assistance, a patient advocate is the perfect solution to their needs and a Flight Coordinator can help organize all your travel arrangements in advance.
How Does a Flight Coordinator Help?
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
Those who have become a medical escort take on a job that comes with many responsibilities and a great deal of pressure. But for those with the proper training and right kind of experience and personality, it’s a rewarding field to enter.
What Does a Medical Escort Do?
Medical escorts are highly trained, experienced nurses who travel with patients, typically on a commercial flight. In the case of Flying Angels, which specializes in medical transport, all flight nurses have years of experience working in emergency rooms and acute care.
Medical escorts can also work for emergency services. For example, they accompany people from the scene of an accident or a natural disaster, ensuring they remain stable until arriving at a hospital. But, typically, most medical escorts work in the non-emergency medical transport field.
In either case, the job can be daunting, as medical escorts typically travel alone with a sick or injured patient at 35,000 feet.
Job Duties of Medical Escorts
A medical escort’s job is complex. In a non-emergency situation, they may travel with patients from their home to the airport. They then stay with them as they get through the airport to their gate, working with airport staff to make the journey as easy as possible. That includes issues such as early boarding and access to comfortable lounges if a long wait is required. They also assist in disembarking from the plane when they arrive at their destination.
The most critical component of the job is during air travel. Here, medical escorts take on the sole responsibility of monitoring and maintaining their patient’s health. They manage the administration of any medications and assist patients with issues such as eating or going to the bathroom.
All this requires experience and skill in handling any medical situation or emergency that may arise. They also must have expertise in providing medical care at high altitudes and carry whatever medical equipment and medication a patient might need as they fly.
Education Needed for Medical Escorts
Medical escorts are expected to have at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Such programs include coursework in physical and social sciences, as well as critical thinking and communication. Medical escorts also must have the leadership abilities to take charge and manage the patient’s situation throughout the travel process.
All medical escorts must have Registered nursing (RN) license to practice.
There also are certificates that can be earned to demonstrate the knowledge and skill needed to work as a medical escort. For example, medical escorts can earn a Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) designation from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. The Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association offers guidance in earning certification and other issues surrounding medical escorts.
Experience is the Key
For medical escorts, the real key to success is both the education and certifications listed above, as well as a wealth of experience.
Typically, a medical escort requires at least three years of experience working in an intensive care unit or emergency room. In the case of Flying Angels, five years of experience are required.
Such experience is necessary to become a qualified, trusted medical escort. Nurses who work in acute care learn critical thinking skills, how to handle many patients, improve their triage skills and hone their ability to make good assessments and decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Becoming a medical escort is both a challenging and rewarding experience. It’s the perfect job for trained experts who want to use their professional talents to provide medical assistance and support for those who need it when traveling.
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
At some point, you may end up facing the task of having to travel when you’re injured. It can seem daunting, but it’s something that can be done if you take the time to plan it carefully.
Travel When You’re Injured
Professional services such as Flying Angels specialize in assisting people with injury or illness in managing travel and taking commercial flights. If you are planning to travel when you’re injured, getting professional assistance is often the right choice.
Here are a few travel tips to keep in mind as well.
Check with Your Doctor
The first rule of travel when you’re injured is to make sure your doctor thinks it’s OK. Until you get that green light, don’t make any air travel plans. You’ll also want to talk to your doctor and get advice for anything they feel you should do to prepare for the trip.
Call Ahead
Many airports and airlines will provide specialized services for those traveling with an injury. That includes wheelchairs to take you to the terminal, handling your baggage for you and giving you a chance to board the plane first (and, usually, get off last). Once you arrive at your destination, you also can get help getting to your ground transportation.
Pack Light
While you can get assistance with your bags, make it easy on yourself by packing as lightly as possible. This will help at every phase of your trip. One rule of thumb is to not pack more than you can handle yourself, because at some point – even with assistance – you might have to. Keeping that mind will help you keep your packing at a minimum.
Recognize Your Limitations
This goes together with asking for assistance – as in, always ask for assistance if needed. Don’t push yourself. Recognize before you leave for the airport what you can and can’t do and keep yourself within those limits. This is one of the most important considerations if you plan to travel when you’re injured and don’t hesitate or be embarrassed to ask for help.
Have Patience, And Take Your Time
This is the trip where you want to leave early and have plenty of time to get around the airport. Don’t get into a position where you feel rushed. You’ll need time to navigate the airport and get to the gate on time. You’ll feel much less stress if you’ve given yourself plenty of time. Also, grant yourself lots of patience. Some things will just take longer to do and there’s nothing to be done about it.
These days, traveling when you’re injured is completely doable. All it takes is the right planning and a good attitude. And if you need professional help, don’t hesitate to contact Flying Angels. Helping people in these type situations is what they do best.
Safe Medical Travel with Flying Angels
by Flying Angels Editorial Team | News & Resources
It’s easy to get terms confused when it comes to understanding different jobs in the nursing profession. Two of the jobs often mistaken for one another – or used interchangeably – are flight nurse and travel nurse.
However, there are big differences. A flight nurse specializes in providing medical care for patients during a flight. A travel nurses goes to different hospitals, helping provide care to patients.
Here’s a more detailed look at the two jobs.
What a Travel Nurse Does
Travel nurses sign up for the job of moving around to work at hospitals in different areas, helping the team at each facility provide care for patients.
In many cases, travel nurses are needed because a hospital is facing a nursing staff shortage. In the past, this often meant hospitals in rural areas. However, with the fast growth of the healthcare industry in recent years, nursing shortages now exist in places all around the country.
Travel nurses are not trained to work on an aircraft. They also may not have the emergency medical services training that a flight nurse has. Depending on the job requirements, some travel nurses may be LPNs or allied health professionals.
The assignments for travel nurses vary in length. In most cases, their temporary stint at a hospital will last anywhere from one month to as long as a year.
What a Flight Nurse Does
A flight nurse, such as those who work with Flying Angels, are highly trained nurses with experience in emergency care.
Flight nurses have extensive training in handling medical emergencies while in an aircraft. They are all registered nurses, and in many cases have advanced degrees. In the case of Flying Angels, nurses also have extensive emergency room experience.
This training and experience is needed to provide quality care for patients who are flying. In addition to having the ability to handle medical emergencies if they should arise, flight nurses also continually checking a patient’s condition and understand the patient’s needs in terms of medication and tolerance for air travel.
They also may consult with a patient’s physician to get a thorough understanding of a patient’s medical conditions, procedures they may have under gone and any medication needs they have during the flight.
In short, flight nurses are highly specialized medical professionals with the training and experience needed to handle a very specific situation: a patient traveling on an aircraft. Travel nurses have varying degrees of training and experience and work temporarily in hospitals to ensure quality care standards are maintained even if the hospital is short staffed.
While both involve professional nurses, they are very different jobs.
Day in the Life of a Flight Nurse
