Kevin A. Kissner, MSN, FNP-C, RN, CEN, CFRN, NRP

Why did you get into transport?

Beginning my career in EMS, I’ve always enjoyed a fast-paced environment. Transport nursing allows me to participate in taking care of the sick/injured in their most critical time of need. 

What is it about your job that you enjoy?

The teamwork and the variety. You never know what you'll be presented with on a daily basis, which pushes you to be ready for those challenges. The team dynamic in this job is unlike any other: working together, always communicating, preparing, and quickly adapting to changes throughout the shift as a crew, not as an individual.  

How did you become involved in transport?

I received an internship with a flight program when I was in paramedic school and fell in love with it. After several years in EMS, I decided to go back to nursing school with the goal of becoming a flight nurse, ultimately beginning my flight career with the same program in which I did my internship. I still love the job as much as I did when it first began.  

What do you enjoy in your free time?

Spending time with my family, going to the beach, and golfing. 

Fun fact about you?

I'm a DJ. 

Why did you become an ASTNA member?

To engage with others across the industry. ASTNA provides such a wealth of information, resources, and support for transport professionals. You don’t know what you don’t know, and ASTNA provides an avenue for providers to extend their knowledge in many different ways.  

Can you share a time when you felt especially proud to work in transport?

Being recognized by my peers and receiving the Distinguished CFRN award from BCEN in 2021. 

Describe the ideal partner/flight crew member.

The ideal partner is someone you can depend on during the good and the bad. It’s someone who will be honest, humble, and keeps the goal of going home safely at the end of our shift.  

Do you have a patient / transport that you feel changed/impacted how you care for your patients today? Can you relay that story?

There isn’t one patient or transport, because over time, many of them stick with you. Whether it was a save, a loss, or even not knowing, they all impact you in one way or another. I just try to learn something from each transport and apply it to my future practice. I’ve learned that having a good listener helps you decompress from the tough calls.