[Strahd]

Hi, I'm a newly licensed RN in MA. Before I went to nursing school I got my EMT-B certification, although I never worked as an EMT. Now my EMT cert is up for renewal and unfortunately I haven't done any of my required continuing education (28 hours + 24 hour EMT-B refresher course). Stupid, I know.

I'm trying to figure out if I should go ahead and cram the ConEd into the next couple months, really the next couple weeks since I start my new RN job orientation at the end of the month. I'd probably have to do the refresher course on the weekends while I'm doing my RN orientation M-F.

How useful is it to keep up the EMT-B cert as an RN? I am planning on moving to the ER after a couple years, would it help me there? I know it would take more time to get the cert again in the future, but I could probably also get it paid for by a future employer, whereas right now I'd have to pay all my ConEd costs out of pocket. Any advice/information you could give would be greatly appreciated!

Phil

[sherry730]

not really sure but IMO I would renew it! The more certificates usually the more you get paid.. esp if you are planning on going to work in the ER! not sure if this helped.. but good luck in your decision

[snowfreeze]

I had Paramedic certification prior to RN, I now have PHRN (pre hospital RN) which is a permanant certification. I used that when I flew with a hospital based critical care transport team. Some ERs like nurses to have a bit of pre-hospital experience or training. If you intend to pursue Emergency and/or flight nursing then keep the EMT current.

[RoxanRN2003]

Originally Posted by Strahd

I'm trying to figure out if I should go ahead and cram the ConEd into the next couple months, really the next couple weeks since I start my new RN job orientation at the end of the month. I'd probably have to do the refresher course on the weekends while I'm doing my RN orientation M-F.

If your nursing school (or any portion of it) was within your EMT certification timeframe, talk to your state Board of EMS (or NREMT) to see if they can be applied to your recert hours. In my state (Kansas), I submitted my college credits for nursing school (with the appropriate documentation) and received approximately 80 CEUs PER SEMESTER toward EMT-P recertification (60 hours/2 years required)!!!

And personally, I'd say renew your certification. I have maintained my EMT-P during and after nursing school. You'd be surprised how many CEUs can be applied to both!

[teeituptom]

an EMT B isnt very usefull at all

[gizmo12]

I have an EMT-B as well. It doesn't really help with nursing much, but hey, it is already finished, it is easy to keep up so why not keep it. I would love to finish my EMT training one day....

[TazziRN]

Unless you plan to actually use the cert, it doesn't really do anything to help you as an RN, other than to say that you had it while you were going to school (which is good). If you actually plan to use it at another job, then keep it.

[CapeCoralNurse2be]

I had my EMT license years ago and let it expire, and regret it now. Not that it would have really meant anything as and RN, but you just never know what turns life will take. Maybe one day you might want get your paramedic license and work as a flight nurse/medic or something, and if it's like it is in FL you must have your EMT to get into and/or challenge the Paramedic program even if you are already an RN. In fact I went to EMT school with and RN who worked in an ER but wanted to get a parmedic license. So since you already have it, I'd suggest keeping it active "just in case".

[danh3190]

[quote=RoxanRN2003]If your nursing school (or any portion of it) was within your EMT certification timeframe, talk to your state Board of EMS (or NREMT) to see if they can be applied to your recert hours. In my state (Kansas), I submitted my college credits for nursing school (with the appropriate documentation) and received approximately 80 CEUs PER SEMESTER toward EMT-P recertification (60 hours/2 years required)!!!

quote]

Wow! Anyone know if they'll do this in PA?

[Strahd]

[quote=danh3190]

Originally Posted by RoxanRN2003

If your nursing school (or any portion of it) was within your EMT certification timeframe, talk to your state Board of EMS (or NREMT) to see if they can be applied to your recert hours. In my state (Kansas), I submitted my college credits for nursing school (with the appropriate documentation) and received approximately 80 CEUs PER SEMESTER toward EMT-P recertification (60 hours/2 years required)!!!

quote]

Wow! Anyone know if they'll do this in PA?

Thank you for the possibility to investigate. I'm in MA, so we'll see what their policy is. i'd still have to take the emt refresher probably, but that's much more manageable given my time constraints.

Although I'm still wondering if there's any specific cases in which being an EMT-B as well as an RN helped. The only thing I've seen so far is flight nursing.

Phil