CFRN study guide
CFRN · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN®) is the foundational nursing specialty certification from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) for RNs working at transport programs and across the emergency spectrum. It is built around the realities of delivering care in flight - whether the crew is responding to the scene of an accident, a natural disaster, or an inter-facility transfer - and it validates the advanced clinical knowledge required to move critically ill and injured patients safely. The CFRN study guide has 5 sections and about 1,270 words.
01Flight Physiology
At altitude, barometric pressure falls while the fraction of oxygen in air remains 0.21. Dalton's law explains that the partial pressure of oxygen (PiO2) falls, so PaO2 and saturation fall even though the percentage is unchanged.
247 words, about 1 min02Patient Assessment and Stabilization
Use a reproducible ABCDE approach: airway with cervical-spine consideration, breathing with waveform capnography and pulse oximetry, circulation with an adequate-size BP cuff and two large-bore lines when indicated, disability with GCS and pupils, and exposure with temperature control. The secondary survey looks for distracting injuries, medication history, allergies, and baseline function.
253 words, about 1 min03Safety and Quality in Air Transport
Air transport safety is systems-based, not just individual vigilance. Know the elements of a safety management system (SMS): hazard identification, risk assessment, mitigation, reporting, and continuous improvement.
262 words, about 1 min04Transport Environment, Equipment, and Operations
Match the aircraft and crew to the patient: rotor-wing for short, scene, or hospital-to-hospital transfers where speed and access matter; fixed-wing for longer distances, higher altitude, and more cabin space. Understand cabin altitude, range, fuel, weather, and landing-zone or helipad requirements.
251 words, about 1 min05Professional Practice, Communication, and Legal/Ethical Issues
Practice within state licensure, employer policy, and transport protocols; know when to use standing orders and when to contact medical control. Document objective findings, interventions, response, and refusal discussions.
257 words, about 1 min