Alumni Human Interest Student

Top Gun: Multi-degree Clarkson College Student Soars to New Heights as Certified Flight Nurse

24 November 2025

Derek Collins is a dedicated and accomplished nursing professional currently pursuing his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Nursing Education at Clarkson College. A proud 2021 graduate of the BSN program in 2021, Derek combines his academic journey with a deep commitment to clinical excellence and education.

Derek Collins

He currently serves as a Neonatal/Pediatric Flight Nurse at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, where he provides critical care transport to some of the most vulnerable patients. Derek’s exceptional clinical expertise and leadership were recently recognized on a national level. He was selected as one of only 12 nurses from across the United States to participate in the Role Delineation Study Group for the Certified Flight Nurse Exam, conducted by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) in July. Through this initiative, he played a key role in shaping the future of flight nursing by identifying the core knowledge, skills, and responsibilities essential to the profession.

Derek holds multiple advanced certifications, reflecting his breadth of knowledge and commitment to professional development, including:

Flight Paramedic Certification (FP-C)
Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN)
Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN)

Driven by a passion for education, Derek aspires to inspire the next generation of nurses through evidence-based teaching and real-world experience. His unique blend of academic pursuit, clinical skill, and professional recognition makes him a standout in the nursing community. “Working in such a fast-paced, high-stress environment, I rely heavily on clear communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making with pilots, paramedics, and hospital teams,” Derek stated. The interprofessional education (IPE) he completed at Clarkson College has had a significant impact on the way he works with other professionals in his role as a flight nurse in the air medical field.

“IPE gave me a solid foundation in understanding each team member’s unique role, which has helped me become more collaborative and effective in critical situations. The focus on teamwork and communication during my IPE training taught me how to listen, lead when necessary, and support others without hesitation,” he explained.

Derek shared a real-world example of how interprofessional teamwork made a difference. During a trauma flight involving a multi-system injury patient, chaotic situation was complicated by limited space to work, time-sensitive decisions to make, and a rapidly deteriorating patient. Because of the training and respect for each team member's scope of practice instilled in him at Clarkson College, Derek was able to quickly coordinate care with the paramedic, pilot, and receiving trauma team. “Each person knew their role and trusted one another, which allowed us to stabilize the patient mid-flight and hand them off efficiently upon landing. That seamless coordination truly made a difference in the patient’s outcome.”

IPE-abstract-1

If a current student asked him why IPE is important, Derek would tell them that in the real world, especially in settings like air medical transport, no one works alone.

“Patient outcomes depend on how well the team functions as a whole,” he explained. “IPE prepares you not just to do your job, but to do it with others under pressure, when every second counts. It gives you the tools to communicate effectively, respect each other’s roles, and step up for your patients in the most intense moments. Those lessons don’t just stay in the classroom—they become a daily part of how you save lives.”

Clarkson College students optimize their roles within an interdisciplinary team by completing an eight-module course designed to provide an overview of healthcare professionals’ roles and responsibilities. Learn more about IPE on our website: Interprofessional Education | Clarkson College.