Critical Air: A Flight Nurse’s Adventures from Alaska to Nepal

by Gwen Hutchins

Get ready to wince, shudder, and even laugh. Critical A Flight Nurse’s Adventures from Alaska to Nepal will transport you to the world of patient care in some of the most challenging regions on earth.
Find out what it took for flight nurse Gwen Hutchins to reach and treat people in remote areas under brutal conditions, such

Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, during major stormsZhengzhou, China, during rolling blackoutsNepal, amid post-earthquake rubbleCebu City, Philippines, where circumstances led to Gwen’s detention for ransom
Gwen writes unflinchingly. She uses gripping narratives and raw details — at times injected with a dose of humor, one of the tools in her survival kit. Critical Air offers a walk down memory lane with Gwen that is not for the faint of heart. Throughout her career as a flight nurse, she boldly went where most of us would never dream of going. You won’t soon forget her incredible story!

Genres: Inspirational

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Laura Gjermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing, interesting, I love a good medical story!! Appreciate the rec from Aunt Beav!

[Salli Martyniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different approach to writing, it will hold your interest.

A bunch of true stories from a nurse who has seen it all. The hours spent in the air just wore me out since I hate flying. To her, four hours in bad weather caring for some critical ill patient was just normal. Not many people could do what she did for so many years and live to tell about it. It’s sad that many times after saving someone’s life she never got feedback on how the patient did in later years. An interesting read with some surprises.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Was a quick read for a distracted reader like myself, but was easy to pick up and put down. Enjoyed returning to the stories and the various viewpoints. Would recommend!

[Adelle Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critical Air is a rare treat - incredibly informative as well as a thrilling memoir of life as a flight nurse. I truly could not wait to get back to it every time I was forced to set it down. Gwen Hutchins story is thoughtful and compassionate, but more so is simply an adventure written and experienced by a tough, no-nonsense survivor. She saw corners of the world most people will never have access to, and it was a delight to be able to walk a mile in her shoes. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Alaska, nursing, or simply motivating themselves to pursue something new. Grateful that I was able to see the world from her eyes.

[Danell Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well written!

I really enjoyed reading about Gwen’s adventures in Alaska and as a travel nurse. Gwen did a great job telling the stories of her patients and I was really invested in learning the outcome.

[Nancy Wellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who thinks nursing is a routine gig has to read Critical Air. I've always been aware of the man ways in which a nursing degree can be applied but I wasn't thinking about Med Evac Flight Nurses in the wilderness of Alaska or international patient repatriation for those with travel insurance who need to return home due to injury or illness. Hutchins' is obviously addicted to adrenaline rushes in this fast-paced description of her 'one last adventure' before complete retirement. This should inspire women and men who want a little zip in their careers.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good Memoir. I wanted to keep reading as it had so many good stories in there about the author and her patients. I know that I would never be a nurse and reading about someone who is, is an amazing reading. Definitely recommend this book!

[pamela williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to hear about her nursing career and the places it took her.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this account of critical care nursing in the most challenging of conditions. Have a lot of respect and admiration for Gwen Hutchins!

[Keira Zerrenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Was expecting more medical information and less biographical, but still a wonderful read and continued to inspire me to pursue flight nursing!

[Picture Perfect · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt all the emotions reading this but mostly left feeling very impressed by the career and life Gwen had.