[rdnkmom]

Originally Posted by Firemedic7

Hi All-

I have been a firefighter/medic for 14 years and am currently working on my RN through Excelsior. I wanted to ask if there are any other firefighters out there who have done this and how do you like it?
I hope to work part-time or PRN at a level 1 trauma center. I was curious as to what experience I would need to gain and where I would need to get it before I would be able to work somewhere like that?
I think it would be a great job away from the FD.
Any input appreciated

How funny that I saw this tonight. My best friend was telling me that a friend of her son's whom we both know, and is a Fireman, is starting his classes for his BSN the 22nd. I said wow, he should get in, as a minority, "male, heterosexual, and wants to be a flight nurse" I thought he was the only firefighter i would ever know who wanted to be a nurse. I'm gonna have to tell him about this post and website. Good luck to you

[dpipes44]

Originally Posted by chip193

I'd advise the opposite - I've been a medic for 15 years, the last 10 in supervision/education/administration and made an easy transition. In the last 15 months (after graduation from Excelsior), I've made the jump to charge and do orientation of new nurses. It depends on the person.

Chip

Of course the person makes the RN. My point was that the Pt contact will help make the transition easier. The number of people from the FD around here that don't finish the Excelsior is higher than the number that do. A handful that I know of. (Close to 500 ff in the area) And I still believe the transition from a "street medic" to a hospital RN is a difficult one. I'm very proud of you, but it sounds like you have been in the hopital for sometime That makes a GIANT difference!

[chip193]

Originally Posted by dpipes44

Of course the person makes the RN. My point was that the Pt contact will help make the transition easier. The number of people from the FD around here that don't finish the Excelsior is higher than the number that do. A handful that I know of. (Close to 500 ff in the area) And I still believe the transition from a "street medic" to a hospital RN is a difficult one. I'm very proud of you, but it sounds like you have been in the hopital for sometime That makes a GIANT difference!

I came from EMS - limited hospital experience and that was long, long ago, and was a PT gig at another hospital.

EC is what you make of it. You need to be exceptionally motivated to make it through. If you aren't, then you suffer the "I'll do it tomorrow" and "it can wait". Neither will get you through the program.

I made a conscious choice to work in a hospital where no one knew me. I did not drop patients there on a regular basis (perhaps a dozen over ten years?). The services that I work for did not drop patients there. In fact, it's in another state! That really did help as there were no expectations.

I still get frustrated at times. There are times when a Resident will hem and haw about doing something for a patient when I know that if I encountered the patient in the street I would be doing therapy X. But, I've learned to bite my tongue a bit and drag the horse to water...and drown him if he doesn't drink!

Chip