02/18/2026
In celebration of National Critical Care Transport Nurses Day, we highlight a NJ flight nurse. 🚁🩺🏥
Kathleen “Kate” Bakhash, RN, BSN, MICN, CCRN, CFRN has been a flight nurse for 7 years. Before flight, she worked in both the ICU and the Emergency Department. Those experiences built the clinical foundation and confidence required for transport medicine and prepared her for the responsibility of caring for critically ill patients outside the hospital.
💭What inspired you to become a flight nurse?
Early in my career, I remember seeing the helicopters landing at the hospital and knowing that was the job I wanted one day. There was something about the teamwork, the precision, and the level of care being delivered that stayed with me. Every career decision I made, working in high-acuity environments, pursuing advanced certifications, and continually challenging myself clinically, felt like it was guiding me toward flight nursing. I feel incredibly fortunate to now work alongside highly skilled paramedics, pilots, and physicians, bringing ICU-level care directly to patients when they need it most.
❤️What do you like best about the job?
What I value most about this role is the autonomy it allows while knowing I am deeply supported. We are trusted to make critical decisions in high-stakes environments, yet we are backed by an incredible team of skilled paramedics, pilots, physicians, program directors, and medical directors who are fully invested in our safety, growth, and patient outcomes.
I appreciate the privilege of caring for patients during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. No two missions are the same, and that constant growth keeps me grateful and grounded. It is truly an honor to represent our hospital and serve the community in this way.
🗣️What would you recommend to other RNs who would like to become a Flight Nurse or Critical Care Transport Nurse?
Build a strong clinical foundation in emergency and critical care nursing. Seek out challenging experiences that strengthen your assessment skills and independent decision-making.
Pursue advanced certifications such as CCRN or CEN to deepen your knowledge and demonstrate commitment to excellence.
Stay curious. Every shift and every patient interaction is a learning experience that builds us as nurses. Transport medicine requires resilience, teamwork, situational awareness, and humility. Commit to lifelong learning, trust the process, and know that the path takes time, but it is worth it.
