Nurse and Firefighter

Nurses General Nursing

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Is anyone a nurse and a firegfighter? I really would love to try both. I am about to enter nursing school, but I have been riding along with the fire dept. and I love it. If anyone does both, I would love to hear about their experiences.

I have a few questions for the paid guys (IAFF).

How does you local feel about you being an RN? How about the guys you work with? Your bosses? Is there ever any problems with scheduling or being held over? What about your retirement? Will you retire ASAP or stay on?

Thanks

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Specializes in ER/ICU/Flight.

The guys I work with ask me a lot about nursing, some even express interest in becoming an RN. There are a few guys who don't even want to be EMTs and they don't like medical calls (just want the fire and rescue stuff). My chief, training officer and a couple of the other medics always asks me to explain the underlying pathophysiology of critical patients we see in the field. Never any problems with scheduling, my chief even lets me take a nap during the day if I've worked at the hospital the night before. As for retirement.....bring it on!!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I'll admit it:

* I've often thought long and hard (still am - can't make up my mind!) about going to school to be a paramedic.

* I've applied to a couple local fire stations as a volunteer. No doubt I'll need to be cert'ed... but it's something I've always wanted to do (other than the flight thing ofcourse... but that's a different day, different thread!) ;)

cheers,

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Specializes in Renal. cardiac. neonatal. urology.

One of my close co-workers left nursing for 18 months to do Police academy. she passed quiet easily but soon quit and went back into nursing.

She claimed that it was impossible for her to work in a area where you have to throw your compassion away in order to advocate the law.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
* I've often thought long and hard (still am - can't make up my mind!) about going to school to be a paramedic.

* I've applied to a couple local fire stations as a volunteer. No doubt I'll need to be cert'ed... but it's something I've always wanted to do (other than the flight thing ofcourse... but that's a different day, different thread!) ;)

I think a lot of community colleges have RN-to-Paramedic programs that are relatively short, like one semester. I know when I took my Paramedic National Registry exam 6 years ago, there was an RN who had just done a one-semester transition program who tested with me (and passed). Might be worth looking into! Personally, I enjoy being on both sides of the ER door. :)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I'm an RN and paramedic, but not a firefighter. I did some initial firefighter training while volunteering as an EMT-B in another county back in 2001, and I loved it at first. Then I discovered while training that I am just too freakin' short to wear a Scott pack and be able to crawl -- I can't lift my head up because my helmet hit the top of the Scott pack, so I couldn't see where I was going at all. Arrghh. That was pretty much the end of firefighting for me! Now I have a pretty blue helmet -- I'll happily be "EMS only." :)

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Never been a firefighter, but I continue working as a paramedic outside along with nursing in-house. I think outside is a lot more fun, but ultimately I need both for the balance. A few of our nurses are VFD firefighters, and one of those nurses became a paramedic last year and has started working as a flight nurse.

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Popular hehe... I intend on rejoining the fire department as a first responder as soon as I graduate nursing school.

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i am so glad i've joined allnurses.com because i've had my ups and downs with nursing school. i was having second thoughts about continuing with school. but just a few months ago i have decided that i want to be a firefighter and a nurse. reading through these blogs makes me feel good that other people like you all have done or are doing the same, (rn/firefighter). i would like to do the emt/firefighter first then nursing. after reading some of your replies, it seems that those of you who are firefighter and nurses are happy!;) it's great to know that you love your job! i will start emt in march 2010. i will give updates! thanks everyone! :tku::doh:

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I'm a critical care nurse who volunteers as an EMT with a nearby fire department. At this point I'm EMS-only but I've thought on and off about taking firefighter training. I love doing it because- for one, although we deal with stuff that's serious business, it doesn't feel like work. Two, I love being outside of a building and getting to take care of different types of patients on every shift. Three, I love helping people in general. And four, there's nothing that gets your adrenaline going like riding to a priority 1 call full speed down the road. Plus, I've always found that I learn something new on just about every shift. I'd love to get paid to do a combination of both nursing and EMS someday. What form that will take, I have no idea.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'd love to get paid to do a combination of both nursing and EMS someday. What form that will take, I have no idea.

Two thoughts: flight nursing, or critical care ground transport? :) I was a paramedic before I became an ER nurse, and I am still a paramedic now; EMS will always be my first love. I would love to end up in some capacity that combines both. Right now I'm trying to do some flight nursing with the Army, we'll see how that goes.

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Hello I am new to this site and just figured since I came upon this question I would add a bit. I am an Sawyer/ EMT on an Interagency Hotshot Crew based in the mountain west, and also a volunter on a local FD, EMT-B. I also just finished nursing school. I would just like to say that the reason I am now a nurse is because it is a much safer occcupation. I have been a firefighter both Structure and wildland for over ten years and am excited to join the nursing world. The real reason I am on here is does anybody know the normal thing to do in reguards to listing LPN along with my EMT-B behind my name at the Fire Department. Is this normal for nurse/FF to do?

Example: John Doe LPN EMT-B ? Or do you leave the nurse thing out at the FD?

Thanks

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