Episode #16
Ep 16: What It Really Takes to Become a Flight Nurse with Stephanie Suzadail
In this episode of My Nurse Specialty , I talk with Stephanie Suzadail about her path into flight nursing and what nurses should know if they are curious about emergency and transport medicine. Stephanie shares how she started in EMS, became a nurse with a clear goal in mind, and built her career strategically toward flight nursing. We talk about what flight nursing really looks like, including schedules, rural response, critical transports, outreach work, and caring for patients with limited resources in fast-moving environments. Stephanie also shares the experience, certifications, and mindset that help nurses prepare for this specialty. This episode offers a real look at both the demands and rewards of flight nursing, from autonomy and critical thinking to self-care, networking, and the value of early exposure through ride-alongs and professional organizations. In this episode, we talk about: What flight nursing looks like behind the scenes, including schedule, transport types, and rural emergency response What nurses need to become competitive for flight nursing, including critical care experience, certifications, and strategy Why curiosity, flexibility, networking, and ride-alongs matter when exploring this specialty About Stephanie Suzadail: Stephanie Suzadail, MSN, MA, RN, PHRN, CFRN, CTRN, CEN, TCRN, CPEN, and CBRN, is a flight nurse, educator, researcher, and nationally recognized leader in emergency and transport medicine. With a background spanning EMS, emergency nursing, critical care, and air medical transport, she is passionate about advancing evidence-based practice, mentorship, and clinician development. She has served in national leadership roles, including Chair of the Emergency Nurses Association EMS Advisory Council, and contributes to the profession as a board certification item writer, speaker, and educator. Her work focuses on transport medicine, critical care, simulation, leadership, and emerging topics in prehospital care. Connect with Stephanie: Instagram: @pyrovixi Blog: scrubsnsirens.com LinkedIn: Stephanie Suzadail Stay Connected: Learn how we can work together Apply to be on the Podcast Connect with me on LinkedIn Get the FREE guide here on how to choose your specialty!
