The Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) is a national certification for flight team nurses. Janie Schumaker, BCEN Executive Director, said: “Every time a flight nurse goes up in the air, they face extraordinary real-time patient care decisions under the most austere and challenging conditions. BCEN is proud to honor Tonya for inspiring her Pafford Air One colleagues and so many others to earn the CFRN so they have the specialized knowledge and skills this exacting and sometimes unforgiving job demands.”

Since becoming a nurse in 2010, Barnard earned six further nursing certifications and has been a flight nurse since 2014.

Jeff Atkins, Base Manager at Pafford Air One, said about Tonya: “She helps to set a standard of care for others to follow, frequently encourages colleagues at our bases and at the hospitals we visit to complete their certifications, and is seen as a patient advocate, supporting family members of patients and being a comfort to those in pain. She remains one of the finest examples of a certified flight nurse that I can think of.”

“I love flying, I love taking care of critical patients, and I feel that a nurse should always strive to learn more to take care of their patients to the best of their ability,” said Barnard. “Having the CFRN gives me, my team, my employer, and my patients the confidence and assurance that I will be able to perform to the best of my abilities. Receiving the BCEN Distinguished CFRN Award is one of the highlights of my professional career.”