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By Lyn Burks


RPMN: If you were not in the HEMS industry, what else would you see your­ self doing? DEIMLING: I have always loved critical care and emergency nursing and can see myself still in that arena. One spe­ cialty unit that I have always contem­ plated working in was the Neonatal ICU. This late in my career, I do not see that happening but it still remains an interest to me. After becoming para­ medic certified, I worked at a fire department for a number of years and really enjoyed that experience. I could see myself working with an EMT and/or paramedic training program as a future life experience.


RPMN:What is your current position? DEIMLING: I am a full­time flight nurse with the University of Cincinnati Medical Center’s Air Care & Mobile Care (ACMC). I am also the Staff Development & Education Committee Chair, act as a primary preceptor to new staff, and serve as a coordinator for ACMC’s STEMI (a type of heart attack) program and Ride­Along program.


RPMN:What has been your biggest challenge as a flight nurse during your 30 years? DEIMLING: A big challenge that is inevitable in our industry is change. Whether that is adjusting to new crewmembers, new aircraft, new bases, or new policies, there is always some­ thing “new” to get used to. Obviously many transitions are for the better, but change is still difficult. One of my per­ sonal challenges has always been to not only maintain my safety and clinical level of expertise, but also to constantly


10 March 2014


strive to increase it. There should be no status quo in HEMS!


RPMN:When and how did you choose to be a flight nurse? Or did it choose you? DEIMLING: I started as a flight nurse in 1984, when helicopter EMS was still rel­ atively new to the industry. I had previ­ ously worked in the Surgical ICU and was currently employed in the Emergency Department at University Hospital in Cincinnati prior to the post­ ing of this new position. My critical care experience and certifications met the requirements for the job and I felt that I would probably enjoy the type of work. Due to the fact that I did not have pre­hospital experience, I do have to admit that I prayed that my first few shifts would be hospital transfers and not “scenes.” We completed an EMT course, rode­along with multiple fire/EMS departments, and later we all became paramedic certified to help with pre­hospital competency.


RPMN:What do you enjoy doing on your days off? DEIMLING: I spend most of my days off doing family adventures and chores. Working full time as a mother is extremely rewarding but very time con­ suming. The few hours I have left in my week are spent doing something with my multiple pets, including horses, dogs, and cats. I do love to horseback ride, camp, and spend time at the beach when vacationing. I am also a voracious reader and don’t feel that my day is complete until I have spent time reading.


RPMN:What is the oddest situation you have been in during your career? DEIMLING: The craziest scene that I ever responded to involved riding on the outside of a locomotive, in the freezing winter, to respond to a patient that was struck by a train. Once we arrived, my first question was how do we plan to get our patient out of here? After talking to our pilot­in­charge and describing the landing zone to him, he was able to land the helicopter near the scene by straddling the tracks with the skids! One of the saddest flights that I


responded to involved a young man who was intoxicated and had passed out in his driveway. A family member didn't see him and ran over his head. Needless to say, his outcome was dev­ astating to all involved.


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