[Justin08]

Hi Everyone,
I posted this in a few forums so forgive me for the repetition! Hopefully I can get some good advice from other guys as well! I am 25yo Male that is thinking of getting into nursing. I have a love for emergency medicine, am currently an EMT-B and I live in Baltimore near some of the best Level 1 Trauma centers in the entire country. It seems like it would be easy enough to get information. Not so. I just got out of the mortgage industry after 5 or so years and for obvious reasons, I am very business savvy and extremely motivated. Problem is I have no college edcuation at all, I went to a very good high school here in Maryland but started working right after. Like I said I love emergency medicine / Trauma and that is what I want to get into but I dont know how. Is a trauma nurse usually just an RN?? I have been on every website for maryland, John Hopkins etc.. with no real luck....I know that there has to be programs where you can work full time and go to school with some sort of tuition reimbursement or the like...right?? I am ready to go into this full time right now but dont know the best way to go about it, should I first try to get a job as a nursing assisant or in antoher position that I am unaware of maybe an EMT bridge class or something?? Sorry for being long in the tounge! Any help is appreciated!! Thanks!

[7daysatsea]

It's probably a controversial opinion - but I would suggest anyone seeking nursing should first do some kind of floor work (CNA, sitter, etc.) before making the decision. Not only will it benefit you in terms of making the final decision - it also broadens your experience and empathy within the field.

I can't apply to the program offered at the school of interest here until Fall 2009, even though I've been working at it since 2007. I'm right now taking Medical Microbiology and other pre-req courses so that when I do enter (god willing) in 2009, I will just be taking Nursing I - VI.

I know that here, after a certain point in school, you can tech in the ER as a nursing student. Perhaps a program near you also offers it.

Seek out any information you can - show up at the schools and just be like, "Tell me what I need to know!"

But, first, I really would suggest taking a CNA course (usually 75 hours) and get a job working as an assistant before taking on the responsibility of the school (i.e, moneys, loans, time, etc.)

If you do decide to go on to get your RN - I'm sure there'll not be a problem getting a job in the emergency setting.

Best of luck.