Aid from Above: Inside My Veiled World as a Flight Nurse

by Kurtis A Bell

The book is about what it is really like to be a flight nurse. Kurtis Bell brings over twenty years of flight nursing to bare in this no holes barred account of life working on a medical helicopter. With the most common question asked of him, "What's the worst thing you've ever seen?" He answers that from his experience and perspective. He is brutally honest and direct. He tells of the early days in Native American AIr Ambulance, when the company was just getting started. It is graphic, vivid and uncensored. Reader discretion is strongly advised. 

Genres: Memoir, Medicine, Nonfiction, Medical

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2019

About the author

Kurtis already knew in the forth grade that he wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon. In that year he drew a life size skeleton of the human body and labelled each bone appropriately with their names. But life happens. He dropped out of school to joined the Army at 17 and became a combat medic in 1976. After the Army, he worked as a medic and orderly in a hospital while he started to obtain his medical degree but, again, life happened and he ended up getting married and having a child. He obtained his nursing degree as an LVN then went on to get his RN. He worked ER, OR and ICU before becoming a flight nurse in 1996 with a fixed-wing aircraft company out of Yuma, Arizona. When Native American Air Ambulance started their first rotor-wing operation, he hired on with them in 1997. He stayed with that company until 2010. He continued his flight nursing with another helicopter program after that until 2016. Dropping out to care for his ailing mother he hired on with another flight company after her passing. He continues to work in the Critical Care Transport business.
His off-duty time is consumed producing artwork with paintings and sculptures. He is a father of three boys and is divorced. He currently resides in Sun City West, Arizona.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent read. If you're in EMS, you should read this book. You can follow the cases and, because they're based on actual cases, either see what's coming (or sometimes not). I thoroughly enjoyed the book and wish it had been longer.

[Val Moczygemba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

I confess, I'm an EMS book junkie. What I liked best was the lack of whining and logical explanation of the endemic problems. The author was not a crybaby. Case studies were well written and interesting. Other paramedic/flight nurse authors
could take some writing lessons.

[Marcia Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal read for any medical or adrenaline junkie

Phenomenal read! WELL worth the time and effort! Author is an EXCELLENT writer! Follows his train of thought well while lending a balanced hand to his own humanity and medical knowledge/expertise at the same time. Buy it! Read it! You’ll thank me later!!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Interestingteresting

This book is outstanding. So very interesting. It was easy to read and understand by this Retired RN who graduated in 1963. I think the average person could read and understand it. Kurtis explained medical terms very completely. I laughed and got teary. I wished it not to end. It is such a good story. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great book.

[Rick Gramling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great job!

Very thoughtful insight into the life of a flight nurse. You get to feel some of the raw emotions these people experience along with the fortitude it takes to persevere in a challenging job.

[cynthia Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into what our heroes from above are doing in a daily basis.

Well written without exaggeration. As someone who had a balloon pump once it was fascinating to read about that procedure among others. These men and women are under acknowledged.

[Barbara J. Bohlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helicopter Medic

For me, this was a very interesting book, as I am interested in all things medical. It is very descriptive of the work of a flight nurse and the kind of patients they transport. Read if you are interested in medical information.

[Deborah a Dench · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Nurse can write!

Fantastic stories, well written. I couldn't put it down! I will look for more from this author. Read this book.

[Kelly Sapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Airflight

I was hoping there would be more stories about the flights they made. There were some, but I would have liked more. Not a bad read though.

[Wendy Ziegler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good relaxing book to read

I liked the fact that the chapters were short and I could relate to most being in EMS and working in an ER