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Life Flight Nurse Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

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Life Flight Nurse information

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$60.8K

$106.6K

$141K

How much do life flight nurse jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for life flight nurse in Raleigh, NC is $106,646.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,600.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a life flight nurse?

Life Flight Nurses are registered nurses who provide critical care to patients during air medical transport, such as helicopter or airplane flights. They are specially trained to handle emergency situations in flight, stabilize patients, and administer advanced life support. These nurses work closely with pilots, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective transport to hospitals or trauma centers. Their role often involves rapid assessment, decision-making, and the ability to perform medical procedures in challenging environments.

What are some unique challenges life flight nurses face during patient transport, and how are they addressed?

Life Flight Nurses often encounter high-stress situations due to the critical condition of patients and the unpredictability of air transport environments. Challenges include managing limited space for procedures, adapting to noise and movement during flights, and making rapid clinical decisions with minimal resources. These are addressed through rigorous training in flight physiology, teamwork with pilots and paramedics, and ongoing simulation exercises to maintain readiness and composure under pressure. Collaboration and clear communication with the entire crew are essential for patient safety and successful outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a life flight nurse, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Life Flight Nurse, you need advanced clinical expertise in emergency and critical care, typically supported by RN licensure, certifications like CCRN or CEN, and experience in trauma or intensive care settings. Familiarity with medical transport equipment, ventilators, cardiac monitors, and specialized air medical protocols is essential. Excellent critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills are crucial, along with adaptability under extreme pressure. These skills ensure rapid, high-quality patient care in unpredictable, high-stakes environments where split-second decisions can save lives.

What is the difference between Life Flight Nurse vs Emergency Room Nurse?

AspectLife Flight NurseEmergency Room Nurse
CertificationsRN license, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)RN license, ACLS, PALS
Work EnvironmentHelicopter or fixed-wing aircraft, pre-hospital emergency scenesHospital emergency department
Employer & IndustryAir medical services, hospitals, EMS providersHospitals, trauma centers

Life Flight Nurses and Emergency Room Nurses both require RN licensure and advanced certifications like ACLS and PALS. However, Life Flight Nurses work primarily in air medical transport environments, providing critical care during patient transfer, while Emergency Room Nurses work in hospital EDs managing acute cases on-site. Both roles are vital in emergency healthcare but differ mainly in work setting and transport responsibilities.

How hard is it to become a life flight nurse?

Becoming a life flight nurse typically requires at least two to three years of critical care experience, such as working as an ICU or emergency nurse, along with obtaining certifications like Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Additional training in aeromedical transport and strong assessment skills are also important, making the pathway challenging but achievable with dedicated experience and education.

How to become a life flight nurse?

To become a life flight nurse, candidates typically need to be registered nurses with critical care experience, such as in emergency, ICU, or trauma units. Additional certifications like Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) are often required, along with strong assessment and decision-making skills. Experience in emergency or critical care settings is essential before working in the high-pressure environment of air medical transport.

What are popular job titles related to Life Flight Nurse jobs in Raleigh, NC?

For Life Flight Nurse jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Life Flight Nurse jobs in Raleigh, NC look for?

The top searched job categories for Life Flight Nurse jobs in Raleigh, NC are:

What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Life Flight Nurse jobs?

Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Life Flight Nurse job openings:

Life Flight Nurse jobs near you
Infographic showing various Life Flight Nurse job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $106,646 per year, or $51.3 per hour.

Air Medical Communications Specialist (NIGHTS) - Duke Life Flight

Duke Health

Durham, NC • On-site

$51K - $68K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Duke Health rating

7.3

Company rating: 7.3 out of 10

Based on 255 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

304th of 893 rated healthcare providers

Job description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.


About Duke Life Flight


Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Life Flight, which is Duke Health's critical care and emergency air and ground transport team, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. The team includes paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, and communications specialists who work quickly to provide compassionate care and transport services to critically ill patients of all ages. Duke Life Flight also maintains a Code Blue Response Team and helps support event medicine needs.


Air Medical Communications Specialist- Duke University Health System - Duke Life Flight

Duke University Health System seeks to hire a Comm Specialist for the Duke Life Flight team, who will embrace our mission of Transforming Lives Transforming Care.

Perform a variety of activities in the Air Medical Communications Center to include the operation of phone, radio console, weather radar system, computer database, mapping systems and related systems and equipment in support of air medical and ground based patient transport services.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Operate communications center phones, two-way radio transmission and receiving console, weather radar system, computer database, mapping systems and related systems and equipment in support of air medical and ground based patient transport services.
  • Respond to emergency transport calls and dispatch the crew according to established procedures; receive incoming calls and set up teleconferences with attending physician(s), transport nurse, referral source and appropriate receiving units; provide information on aircraft or ground transport availability, weather projections, locations and time projections.
  • Recommend appropriate utilization of Communications Center services to medical control officer on duty; outline available options and recommend course of action based on assessment of all relevant factors.
  • Maintain interface with Public Safety (i.e. Durham EMS, Fire, Police and Rescue) to ensure proper coordination of transport services in emergency and trauma-related transport activities.
  • Provide statistical information as requested by flight crew to include average flight distance, average time, latitudes and longitudes; provide directions for specific landing sites. Monitor and read weather radar information as requested.
  • Coordinate emergency and direct admissions from outside hospitals in conjunction with charge nurses and physicians based on treatment plan and bed availability. Accurate and timely documentation of trauma divert status for hospital.
  • Work collaboratively with the MCO's, Transfer Center Nurses, Patient Placement, Life Flight Nurses, Case Managers, Billing Department, and all other Departments associated with the Air-Medical Transfer Center to ensure proper information is gathered and entered into the computerized dispatch software correctly and patient transport is complete.
  • Maintain database on referrals and hospital locations; access, read and interpret county, state and specialized maps for determining locations of accident scenes or referral sources.
  • Provide superior customer service in interpersonal relationships with co-workers, patients, visitors, families, and Doctors in a courteous, professional, and friendly manner. Promote teamwork by exchanging ideas.
  • Enter and record a variety of data and maintain a file of reports, forms, records and daily log.
  • Participate in Life Flight educational outreach programs as directed. Participate in departmental and/or hospital committees.
  • Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

WORK SCHEDULE:

  • 3 - 12 hour shifts
  • Shifts available: 6:30P to 6:30A
  • Location: 14 Moore Drive, Durham NC 27703

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent
  • Two years of dispatching experience in 911 control line, fire/police dispatching, air traffic control,
  • hospital-based health or related setting or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/orexperience
  • Certified as a North Carolina EMT or EMD. Hold current IAMTC, IAED, or CommLink CFC
  • Maintain certification through continuing education
  • CommLink Certified Flight Coordinator Certification (CommLink CFC) within 18 months
  • Ability to operate radio/console equipment and transmit information.
  • Ability to learn Maestro and Dispatch software applications.Master competencies in these areas within 6 months.
  • Evaluate progress in these areas within the 90 day probationary period

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.


Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.


Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.


Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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