It’s the conversation that almost every person dreads having with their very independent parents. No, not the one about driving. No, not the one about downsizing, or possibly moving to a senior community. No, not the one about getting some help around the house.
The conversation about traveling. Specifically, the one about getting a flying nurse to travel with them. Travel companions for seniors are one of the best ways to make sure that your parents have a safe and comfortable ride, especially if they have medical conditions that make travel difficult. It may be Parkinson’s, or a recent hip replacement, the need for oxygen for COPD, or an IV when flying for treatment at a distant hospital. Someone next to them in the cabin will go a long way to making them feel more comfortable and confident, and a long way to reassuring you that they are in the best of care.
Certifications Matter
Ideally, you should choose a certified flight registered nurse to accompany your parents. A CFRN has additional qualifications that an LPN just doesn’t have – and LPNs do not qualify as flight nurses. The credential is available only to a licensed RN or BSN, and most companies will not hire a flight nurse without any other experience. In other words, a flight nurse is experienced in emergency medicine, and has also passed coursework, and an examination in order to become certified.
Work with Professionals
A flight nurse provides an extra measure of medical knowledge and experience that is beyond even the most well-meaning family member or flight crew. Don’t put a fragile elder in the care of anyone who is less than fully qualified to step up to a medical emergency in the air. Find your go-to flight nurse today!
