RN Who Wants To Become A Paramedic??? - page 4

I took my first EMT class in the 80's. Fast forward to being an LPN, and just completed my EMT-B class (again, a LOT has changed!!) to mix it up a bit. Some states will allow an RN to "comp" the EMT-B exam, I would look on your state's website. Then. you can begin taking EMT-P (Paramedic) classes. I would most definetely see if you could practice as an EMT-B (on call, perhaps) to get used to pre-hospital care, as it is really different. There's also an EMT-I designation, which is an EMT intermediate, who can start IV's and airways, but not so cardiac based as a paramedic.

Having a blast, and I know you will too!! Best of luck and let us know how it goes!!

hr at the hospital i work at told me that, according to the illinois nurse practice act, a person working as an r.n. cannot work as a cna, pct, or er tech as well. is it different for emt-b and paramedics? i have read threads where people say that they work as both a r.n. and a paramedic. i live in illinois, i don't know if it varies from state to state. is this allowed by the illinois nurse practice act?

"may 24 by patti_rn
may 24 by patti_rn a member since may '09 - from 'u.s.a.'. patti_rn has '10+' year(s) of nursing experience and specializes in 'icu, ed, and pediatric rehab.'. posts: 320 likes: 593
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there is a credential called a phrn (pre-hospital rn) that is a national certification for emergency medical services. you 'outrank' paramedics, so if you're on a call and the patient is critical you get to provide care and the medic has to drive the ambulance! (being somewhat facetious, but in my experience it was true). the pathway to this certification is first being an rn, then taking the emt practical test. if you pass, you then take a national certification exam. you should take acls before taking the certification test. once you're qualified, you will need to complete 9 or 10 hours of ce credits per year. it's a more expedient path to ems than going through a one or two year paramedic training--most of which is redundant for an rn. "

patti, i don't know where you work, but let there be no doubt that #1 phrn is not a national cert (as many have already stated), and many states have no phrn cert or something different (such micn in nj). and #2, the phrn (i'll talk pa here since it is only phrn cert i know first hand) does not outrank a paramedic on scene (nj micn also does not outrank a nj micp) and the medic most certainly does not have to drive you. learn the facts before you make such a loaded post.

my expeirence is 28 years as a nremt-p in pa, 22 years as an micp in nj and 10 years in critical care transport (ground & flight) as a ccemt-p, fp-c.

i want to get my paramedic after nursing school too. let me warn you though...i got my emt-b because i wanted to be on an ambulance. after doing both the er and ambulance rotations, i decided to go through the nursing first. i hated the ambulance. the company that i was with does 12 hour shifts "posting" instead of being at a station. so basically you sit in the ambulance for 12 hours waiting on a call. in the time i was with them, we transported sick patients but nothing like what you see on tv. i was so dissapointed until i started my er rotations. i loved the er. now i'm planning on going to nursing school then to paramedic school. i really want to be a flight nurse/paramedic.