Just heard something interesting to any EMT's out there who are thinking of enrolling in Excelsior College's nursing program, but haven't yet.

They are changing their entrance requirements as of 01/01/03. Any EMT's (basic or intermediate) will also have to have 1000 documented hours of direct patient care under supervision of a licensed health care professional as well.

I'm not sure what the criteria are for 'direct' and 'supervision' are, etc. But you might want to call the admissions office for clarification.

I'm enrolled, but I know several people who are "thinking about it". It might make your life easier to get in before you need to fulfill those extra requirements. Good Luck!

Kavi,

Thanks for this information. I am not usre how this will affect me as my EMT class does not end until March 31st. I will take my certification in early April. According to the woman at the admissions office at EX I can't enroll until I am certified. So Iwonder what happens now?

If you know of anything different, please let me know. I would appreciate it.

Tks

C

yes, i've heard about the change in requirements for EMT's too. hopefully lots of people will get in under the wire. these changes will have a significant impact on the numbers of emt's that are enrolling.

maybe enrollment was getting too high? i think the capacity of the school is self-limited because there are only so many workshops that they put on per year to help train the students for the clinical exam and only so many testing sites for the clinicals and it seems as though all of these things are bottle-necked right now (at least for the moment). i had heard a student now (mid-november) -the earliest time she could get for her clinical is march 2003!! no kidding!

good luck all!

being an emt does not prepare you in anyway shape or form to be an RN. Neither does being a Paramedic. The only thing that being a Paramedic does ( that will really help throughout nursing school) is teach you to critically think.

A word to the wise....

1. Learn how to write a care plan, because in your practical you will have to.

2. Get a job in the hospital where you can practice SKILLS for NURSING, NOT skills for THE STREETS.

3. Pray like hell you can pass the practical; because if you don't, your money, time and energy, is a total waste. Absolutely worthless. An LPN friend just took her practical, she was the only one to pass out of 10 students.

I muddled my way thru 16 yrs of EMS, always saying I was gonna go to Regents (Now Excelsior)..never doing anything about it. I finally decided to go to REAL NURSING school, which i am in now...will finish August 2003.

Not to sound snide, but comparing nursing school to Paramedic school is like comparing college to kindegarden, and to EMT school, college to pre school.

GOOD LUCK TO THOSE OF YOU WHO CHOOSE TO GO THE DISTANCE LEARNING ROUTE, BUT REMEMBER THE DANGERS OF YOUR CHOICES.

If I was particularly offensive forgive me. I just finished a not so happy shift and must get ready for 24 hrs of fun in the am.

R

EMTPTORN I don't want to offend you either, but I know three people quite well who were Paramedics here in Michigan,and took the Excelsior Nursing Course. They were very pleased. Two are still working as nurses, the third is now in medical school.

I also think the difference between Paramedics and Nurses depends on the State that you live in. In Michigan (and I have had Paramedics and Nurses agree on this consistently) there is not a huge difference. Paramedics are trained more extensively in emergency, ACLS, and trauma. Nurses are trained more extensively in patient education and care plans. That's it.

Not to sound mean, but I also know of two Paramedics from Florida who had run down there for many years. They came up here and challenged the Michigan licensing test and failed. Now we all use the National Exam, and I heard they both failed that too. So maybe Paramedic training in Florida is not as good as it could be. I know Michigan's is harder than most.

I'm sure you are great at your job, and we all need all the kudos we can get. But I wanted people out there to know that there are other perspectives besides yours.

I have 6 1/2 years in EMS and was also trained and worked as a Medical Assistant. I can start IVs and intubate faster than most nurses I've met. Excelsior program will give me the opportunity to enhance all that I've learned in the field. And apply it in a new direction. It's certainly not easy, and for many of us, the only way we might make it happen.

Kavi

Don't judge what you do not know to be true. Yes I do live in FL, but was not trained in FL. I have held the NREMTP for several years (proudly) and have worked in many states, offshore and overseas.

I know of EMTP's who have made it through the program, too. I am all for People with experience in the medical field trying this route. But newly licensed personell with no experience have no business doing this.

THAT BASICALLY IS MY POINT.

One other tidbit, my Paramedic program (from 1990) actually had more clinical hrs than my nursing program...that still does not in any way shape or form make it comparable.

Sadly I disagree; there are many more differences than you (and your friends) thnk in the training.

I wish you good luck in the program.

Goodnight.

Kavi,

Just two more quick points before I go to bed (i have to get to bed for my 24hr shift which starts in 6.5hrs)

1. I am happy the excelsior program is out there. My wife who is an LPN plans to get her RN this route. GOOD FOR HER. She feels my misery with RN school and looks for something different.

2. My last point. The first semester of nursing school for me was extremely easy...cake. Then shit ran downhill. (IE it got real real real hard) I used to tell all the EMT's at work who mentioned going to Paramedic school to forget about it and go to RN school..more pay, opportunity, and in FL RN's can challenge the EMTP test. After 4 hard semesters of nursing school I quit giving that advise. School sucks, and if you want to be a Paramedic, then go be one. period.

Best Of luck

Randy

Anyway...now for real...goodnight.