If ONE more person tells me......

SnowymtnRN · Nov 20, 2003

Originally posted by mfdteacher
No, you do not need to be a EMT to be an ER nurse. But since I come from an ICU and Er background (about 20 years) and I now work in ERs on weekends for a registry and my full time job is at a fire department EMS office, I feel qualified to speak. ER nurses are woefully underinformed regarding what goes on during scene calls. The medics and EMTs work their butts off and do the best they are ALLOWED and then get hassled at the ER. I see it all the time. A lot of nurses expect more than what is in the field providers scope of practice and some just get angry with the crews that bring in more work(patients) and then leave. Some times I wonder if some nurses really believe that the medics and EMTs set their alarms for three am just to go out and find a drunk or something to bring in and hassle the ER staff.
ER nurses need to take another look at what their field providers can and cannot do and how they do it. And yes, some of the field providers need to be a little more charitable to the nurses that accept the patients from them.
Thanks for the space for my voice.

While i've not worked consistently in an ER, i've been down there enough to get a "feel" of the dynamics between the RN's and EMT's/Medics. I have no doubt that they work very hard out in the field, within their scope of practice and i'd like to believe that most are VERY good at what they do. If nurses are expectant of things that aren't realistic or safe within their practices, then the nurses are wrong. In my past (which i'll admit is one small rural ER, where i did NOT get to work full time), EMT's and Medics had a tendency to come in and try to "take over" rather than pass the patient and continue care. Like you said, some of the field providers need to be more charitable, and i'm sure that goes for nurses too. At least from what i've seen, at this particular hospital, medics were pompass and judging, and VERY territorial of the ER. Of course this is this one ER, and hopfully its not like that everywhere. BUT i don't think to be a good credible ER nurse, that you need to be an EMT. I think that i will be a good ER nurse whenever i get there, regardless of being an EMT or not!

Thanks for the input! :)

TinyNurse, RN · Apr 30, 2004

oh i haven't heard that.........

except if you wanna be a flight nurse.......

RN's have much more education., so don't let it bother you!!!!!!!

heart queen · Apr 30, 2004

My experience is ICU, but I have worked a limited few ER shifts via floating. But regardless, this is the same argument that any nurse wanting to goto ICU needs 1 year of floor exp. I could say the same for your wanting to go to the ER.... you need skills... assessment, IV's, foley's, NG, vent on and on.

But, if you find any place or unit that is willing to give you an adequate orientation, than a resource where someone loosly follows you... you will succeed anywhere !

Being an EMT, can be confusing to an RN because of different standing protocols as well as scope of practice... the field, where there is little back up and little time.. is not the best learning experience for what y are seeking. A structured and lengthy orientation is. Depending upon where you live and how severe the nsg. shortage will determine if local ER's will take you as a new grad.

I went to the ICU with guns locked and loaded, worked my orifice off and read constantly at home to be competent... thats where my heart was and is... if you want it... go for it..never side step or take the long road.

just my 2 cents

veetach · Apr 30, 2004

I have never heard of this ridiculous mindset. EMT's have their place pre-hospital and RN's have their place in the hospital, they are not alike nor does being an EMT make someone a good RN. :angryfire :angryfire

nurse_robin · Apr 30, 2004

So several different people have told me "it would be helpful if you were an EMT" WHY? What has THAT got to do with anything???? GGGGGRRRRRRRR
D

I don't get it either! That makes no sense to me.

Sounds like things my MIL used to tell me when I first became a nurse...."Girl you should work for the state as a caseworker...that's a good job" :angryfire WHAT!!!! Oh yeah, I'll take that $12/hr job cause it's the state! NOT! :rotfl:

Well, I guess people mean well, but they don't know what they're talking about.

Mazieks · Apr 30, 2004

to be an ER nurse it would be helpful to be an EMT i'm going to SSSCCCRRRREEEEAAAAMMMM! :angryfire I swear, i just don't get it. No i'm not knocking EMT's. I'm a RN, i have a degree, i've done med surg nursing, post op cardiac nursing, geriatric nursing and peds nursing. Some as an LVN, some as a RN. The last hospital i worked at was m/s, and i got the chance to float to the ER quite frequently and i was hooked. I'm one of those "work better amidst chaos" type people. i'm a much better nurse when i'm busy and challenged. I like trauma, i like the "treat 'em and street 'em" patients, i like them all. I think i would be a GREAT ER nurse given the opportunity. I haven't worked in 3 years cuz i've pretty much been pregnant for 3 years :chuckle and this is my last baby. i want to go back to work when s/he is a few months old, maybe part time, maybe not. So i'm working on my resume NOW. I plan on trying to take ACLS and PALS as soon as a class opens up. So several different people have told me "it would be helpful if you were an EMT" WHY? What has THAT got to do with anything???? GGGGGRRRRRRRR
One day i'll get there. I swear i will!
Thanks for the vent. I just had to cyber scream!!!! lol:D

I am with you 100%. I work in a Hospital and ask them for a screaming room some poeple just do not get it lol

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2004

Frankly, I'm surprised. I've heard of flight nurses needing EMT training. That makes sense, since they do scene runs. But ER nurses needing EMT training???
David Woodruff

This is because some states treat air ambulances like ground ambulances. The are under the arm of the states EMS agency and not nursing or hopital regulations- even if they are hospital based. To that effect all personel must be EMT's or paramedics.

I dont think ED nurses need EMT training but some could use an orientation to what EMS can and cant do. Being both a medic and an RN i've seen alot of nurses treat medics badly just because of misconceptions and that goes the other way as well but not nearly as much because all medics have to do some time in the ER when they have their training.

In fact I have actually worked in two hospital ED's that required the nurses to do EMS ride time shifts during orientation. You would hear some complaining on both sides part, afterwords both sides seem to have better attitudes towards one and other.

Just my 2cents.

Rj

Mazieks · May 1, 2004

This is because some states treat air ambulances like ground ambulances. The are under the arm of the states EMS agency and not nursing or hopital regulations- even if they are hospital based. To that effect all personel must be EMT's or paramedics.
I dont think ED nurses need EMT training but some could use an orientation to what EMS can and cant do. Being both a medic and an RN i've seen alot of nurses treat medics badly just because of misconceptions and that goes the other way as well but not nearly as much because all medics have to do some time in the ER when they have their training.
In fact I have actually worked in two hospital ED's that required the nurses to do EMS ride time shifts during orientation. You would hear some complaining on both sides part, afterwords both sides seem to have better attitudes towards one and other.
Just my 2cents.
Rj

God Bless All Nurses.