Southeast alumnus to give presentation on EMS flights

Southeast Missouri State University students, as well as the public, will have the opportunity to witness an exceptional experience Friday beginning at 1:15 p.m. in Crisp Hall Auditorium and 3 p.m. at the Show Me Center.

Jim Burnett, a Southeast alumnus and Emergency Medical Service flight nurse of 15 years, will explain what it's like to be a military flight nurse aboard a helicopter.

The presentation will then move to the Show Me Center parking lot where tours of the helicopter will be given and photo opportunities will be available. Students will have plenty of time to walk to the Show Me Center if they choose or they may park on Normal Avenue and Washington Avenue or in the visitor lot of the University Center and drive after the presentation.

Burnett started flying helicopters in 1996 at Patrick Air Force Base with First Flight out of Holmes ER in Melbourne, Florida. He then transferred to Scott AFB in Illinois before joining Area Rescue Consortium of Hospitals in St. Louis.

"The reason I chose flight nursing is that it is rewarding when you know you make decisions that help decide whether the patient will survive or not," Burnett said. "There is no doctor on the scene to help you make time-critical decisions."

According to Burnett, there are many responsibilities involved when providing in-flight management and nursing care for all types of patients. Flight nurses evaluate a patient's in-flight needs and request appropriate medications, supplies and equipment to provide continuing nursing care from origination to the destination facility.

"We as flight nurses intubate patients, place chest tubes, insert central lines, insert IO's [Intraosseous Infusion], etc.," Burnett said. "I also manage patients on balloon pumps, LVADS [Left Ventricle Assist Device], RVADS [Right Ventricle Assist Device] and ECMO [Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.] It's a very rewarding experience."

Preston King, chief executive officer of the Student Nurses Association, will coordinate the event. King said Burnett will speak about making important decisions when there are risks involved and applying this to choices that many may face in the future.

"There are more than 900 declared nursing or pre-nursing students here at Southeast, Jim has a message for everyone about following your passion and in sharing his experiences in intense positions," King said. "He will speak about making important decisions when there are risks involved and apply this to choices that many may face in the future."

King said Burnett is also being brought in to educate students on areas and careers that almost no one gets to shadow or experience first-hand.

Burnett will do a ride along presentation in case there are students interested in experiencing what it's like to fly and to learn why patients are flown and what happens during flight.

The event is sponsored by the Student Nurses Association and is free and open to all students.