RN with EMT cert???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi. I'm currently certified as an EMT-B but am also in the final semester to get my BSN and become an RN. My EMT certification is getting ready to expire and I'm wondering if there's any advantage in having both EMT and RN? Basically the EMT recert process is a pain in the ass and I'm wondering if I should even bother. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Prehospital.

Depends on what you want to do. If you had your EMT-P i would say def. don't let it go b/c you will regret it. If you wan't to do flight I would keep it up. I have my EMT-P and RN and won't let my medic cert go b/c there is no way I would ever go through all that training again... EMT-B cert doesnt really have much of a time investment. Its something else you could put on your resume though

Specializes in Acute care, Community Med, SANE, ASC.

Agree totally with EMT-2-RN's post--I could have written it myself. I have my EMT-P and I agree that there is no way I would let it go because it was hard to get. I do my re-cert through online education. I use a site called CE solutions and Emcert. I have also been able to use my ACLS certification for my nursing job as EMT CE hours--I had to ask for a special EMT certificate. I would say to hang onto it.

Don't some states let you challenge the medic test if you have your EMT and RN? Just a thought, if flight nursing was a desire later on.

Specializes in EMS, ER.
Basically the EMT recert process is a pain in the ass and I'm wondering if I should even bother. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I would never let my EMT cert lapse, of course I've had it for quite awhile. Where are you? I know some places let you do a CME based recert program like here in NY, I got to use quite a few hours from my nursing cirriculum towards my EMT recert. Like a couple previous posters said, it looks good on a resume and some jurisdictions let you challenge the Paramedic with your RN license and EMT certification, so I would say yes, it's deffinately worth hanging on to :twocents:

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

If you are planning to work in an emergency setting keep your EMT up to date. It is nice to have that up to date training and to know how to perform those skills. I kept mine when I was working in the ED. If you are planning to become a flight nurse, most programs will require you to be trained as both a paramedic and an RN, plus they will require TNCC, PALS and CEN certifications (at least where I have worked they did). It all depends on what your career goals are.

Specializes in Paramedic 15 years, RN now.

I agree, Paramedic here and I will never let it go. I worked too too hard for it. But B is alot easier to get. I'm proud of my P plus, you can work on the truck or chopper.

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