Nurse to Firefighter

Nurses Men

Published

Hello all!

I have a question about becoming a firefighter after nursing school. Prior to going to school I worked as an EMT-B. I'm going into my third semester of nursing school and while I like it, I would like to work as both a nurse and firefighter when I'm done. My plan is to work my into ER nursing, start volunteering at a fire department, obtain my EMT-P, then continue to work full time as a nurse until I eventually get hired on as a career firefighter (I know is crazy competitive). I know it sounds crazy. Why go to nursing school in the first place right? Well as it turns out I do like nursing, but I like firefighting/EMS more. Eventually I'd like to do full time firefighter and part-time nursing. Does that sound like it might work? Any advice from anybody about how to go about this?

Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, C-NPT, FP-C.

Not really. Most departments work a rotation like 24 on 72 off. That makes it easier to work side jobs. I know I do 48 on one week woth four days off then a 72 the next week with five days off. Plenty of time to work prn or even half time in the days off.

Avenger - awesome work! Inspiring accomplishments.

(I also wish I had a job where I could get some school work done :yes:)

Specializes in ICU, Trauma, CCT,Emergency, Flight, OR Nursing.

Started out 22yrs ago as a paramedic, went to university to become a RN. Worked for years in ICU and Trauma/ ED and then started flying as a Flight RN. Been doing that for about 17 years now and love it. Its great combining Acute care nursing (ICU) with EMS, Rescue and interacting with fire colleagues and EMS personnel. Its the perfect match.

A lot of ER nurses do that. Some eventually choose to fly on the helicopters instead.

I was going to suggest this. I'm sure it's exciting.

Specializes in MSN, FNP, ATC.

I was also interested in doing this! Has anyone been able to pass out of having to get their EMT after already having your RN license? Or were they strict about you going back and getting that certification?

Specializes in 911 critical care ambulance nurse.

I started out in EMS in 1979 as a basic EMT and worked on a BLS ambulance service. In 1993, I got my nursing license. In 2005, the ambulance service upgraded to paramedic level. My state allows RNs to function as paramedics on their nursing licenses and started working at the paramedic level. I let my EMT license lapse and took the paramedic refresher and a critical care paramedic certification course. So now, I'm operating as a critical care 911 EMS nurse on my nursing license. I also was on the fire department for a while as a supply and station operations person, but I never took the firefighter courses.

My advice to you guys is that get into the best shape of your life before you start volunteering/fire academy. Get well acquainted with hand tools, power tools, hardware, ropes, etc. I have been stuck in a dead end nursing career since realizing it in 2016, went through a whole college fire academy, and got an internship but dropped out a few months into it because the department overall sucked with almost no real calls and half of the people there hazing me, and personal finances since I only had time to work a day or two at my nursing job. Also learn to have thick skin because you will need it, I lost count of how many people asked me "what the f*ck are you doing here?" both in fire academy and at my internship after they found out I am a nurse. Tomorrow I start paramedic school, and will work part time as a medic in EMS and volunteer eventually when I move somewhere close to a volunteer department. Good luck brothers.

Specializes in ER.

Go for it. I am also an EMT and have been a volunteer FF. Fire Departments love that I am an ED RN, never heard a single negative. I may get my Paramedic and apply to Fire too. 

Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.

The only concern I would have is that becoming a Medic after becoming a nurse can be a big hurdle for some.  Nurses that have no experience at all in the Pre Hospital arena would probably be best served by taking a paramedic course from start to finish.  The skill that a medic can perform is greatly expanded than what a nurse can do. As a medic who obtained my RN license afterwards  I had to constantly remember that I need to restrict what I can do. For example, I can intubate people in the street in uncontrolled scenarios but in the ER, with tons of other RN's and doctors, I cannot.  I've had residents who knew im a medic ask me to intubate patients for them after they have missed a couple of times.  As much as I wanted to, and was probably in the best interest of the patient, I cannot.    You should have seen the eyes bug out of other RN's when I put an EJ into a patient when they had no peripheral veins.

    If you just want to be a FF then going through the academy will be your ticket.  Just really evaluate how much time you want to dedicate if you want to work the bus or just on am engine.

Specializes in 16 Year in various medical fields.

Good advice here seems like emergency medicine is your passion and would def look into flight nurse and or different roles in ER and OR.

As most I know do the opposite of what you are doing 

Specializes in ED RN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
On 3/8/2015 at 5:57 AM, Avenger1 said:

I just saw this post and want to offer my thoughts as I am a career firefighter and RN.

I spent 4 years in the infantry in the Marine Corps. After getting back from Iraq the second time I got out and took some gen ends before applying to nursing school. While waiting to be accepted I took a fire exam and was offered a position. I turned it down to go to school and used the GI Bill to pay for it. By the time I graduated the bottom fell out of the nursing market and I had a tough time finding a good job. In the mean time the department was testing again and had 35 spots open. I scored 2nd with my veterans preference points, took the job and went to the academy. After that I took a PT spot in a trauma center ED while I finished my first 3 years on the job working a lot of 4 on/4 off and finishing my BSN doing most of the work at the station. Bid on a job, and now work either 24 on 24 off 5 off or 48 straight and 6 off. I do 2 12's a week nursing still and have a year until starting NP clinicals. Again I do the bulk of my school work at the station.

That's my path. I am very, very lucky. I make well above what I would doing either job individually, the VA is paying for grad school and I get to do most of my work at the station. Firefighting is the 2nd best job out there after being in the infantry.

I tell anyone that asks how I did it to join the military. Any branch. Just get those veterans preference points. Soon career firefighting and police jobs will be next to impossible to get without them. And you can't beat the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Good luck on both careers.

What department has that DREAM schedule??????

everyone here is 24/48, a few have Kelly days.. 

1 Votes

Working in hospital nursing part time is, in my experience, extremely difficult and typically reserved for those semi-retiring nurses. Hospitals want to ensure nurses are available and specifically available two weekends a month. Since firefighters are called out of town to assist with out of town fires, or expected to work overtime when there are shortages, this seems like a nearly impossible juggling act to do both. Also, that is a lot of time and money dedicated to getting an RN just to vary your experiences or have more options. I think most firefighters just opt to work overtime for the big money, rather then get regular pay at a second job. Another strange fact that perhaps others can verify is that it seems that the experienced firefighters no longer are hands-on with medical calls. They may go to the calls, but they act as backup support for the younger medics. 

+ Add a Comment