Paramedic, RN, or something else?

[c27_AEMT]

I have been a long time lurker and have found a lot of answers here in the past. Hopefully I can find some much needed answers. This question has been asked before, but I was hoping to get some insight specific to my situation. If this post is in the wrong place, I am sorry.

First, a little background on myself. I have a bachelor's degree already (not science related) and have done a lot of wildly differing things in my life so far. I mention this just to show that I have found many things I do not like, not to sound old and salty. As far as anything medical or nursing related, I am a relative novice.

After college, I joined the Army and have been out a while now. When I was on the way out I became an EMT and then Advanced EMT. My goals were on the lines of getting more medical experience in the emergency setting to pad my resume for overseas contract work (non-medical, combat related stuff). After a few years in the contract scene, and while getting my EMT certs, I became more interested in the medical side of things, and not just the combat side of things. I am also an avid mountaineer and have reached the summit of both Mt. McKinley and Mt. Rainier. I have an interest in law enforcement but I think now that I am married it might be time to retire from the gun-toting line of work (although I do love it). For me, Paramedic seemed the next logical step to work toward all of these areas as it is good to have in all areas except maybe law enforcement. I am interested in wilderness medicine and it seems that I can do that as an RN or Paramedic and can get my Wilderness EMT fairly quickly even if I just stay an AEMT. Also, Paramedics, RNs, midlevels, and Drs can get the Diploma of Mountain Medicine (internationally accredited). Oh yeah, I am also interested in flight medicine. I guess I basically want to keep as many doors open as possible, which is one reason why RN appeals to me (not sure if that is true though).

I really enjoyed my time in the ER during EMT and AEMT. The first shift wasn't the greatest, but since then I have been paired up with some great nurses that I learned a lot from. Not sure if this is just how our ems education is, but we were paired up with nurses for the duration by our preceptor.

I could write more but I will try to limit this. My choices:

1) I can start Paramedic School (Associates Degree) in January 2015 and it would run until next December 2016.

2) I could get my last requirement (microbiology) and start an accelerated ADN program (can convert to BSN with more classes) that runs from July 2015-May 2016.

All the paramedics and nurses in the area speak highly of both programs and some have gone through both. So there it is. Any advice or input from anyone who has been in this position (or a similar position) would be much appreciated. I have asked around where I live and am just looking to get as much info as I can. I am an all in type of guy though. I am ready to work hard and not afraid to make short term sacrifices to get where I want to be.

I feel like my first degree was a waste and am trying to avoid that feeling again. I do have 33 months of the Post 9/11 GI Bill left which pays a book stipend, tuition and around 1200 monthly for housing. Additionaly, my wife and I have a goal of being debt free ASAP and have 50k left.

Again, sorry if it is TMI and I hope to hear back. Thanks, everyone!

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

I do ski but I haven't made the move out west yet. That is the plan though. What did you have in mind?

[FlyingScot, RN]

Well, in addition to being a nurse/paramedic or both (like me) you could consider becoming a member of the National Ski Patrol. They have both a pro (as in paid) patrol and also a volunteer branch. You don't have to be out West for this as they have divisions that cover pretty much the entire US (even as far south as Georgia). This might combine your need for outdoor excitement and medic type patient care. I've been doing this for 35 years and it's rarely boring and can be downright exciting at times.

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

Thanks! I will look into that. Right now I am trying to decide if it is worth it to hustle and try to get into this program at Emory: Accelerated BSN | Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing | Emory University or if I should just do the year program at community college and do the change over to bsn while I work full time: RN to BSN Online Program. Eventually I am hoping to use my climbing contacts and climbing skills combined with future wilderness medicine and nursing experience to get on to some more expensive expeditions (50k plus) a little cheaper.

[FlyingScot, RN]

Get your BSN.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

akulahawk--Thanks for the reply. The more I discover about nursing the more I think it might be for me. People say don't do things for the money, but you gotta live and enjoy it, right? I have some expensive hobbies and if nursing and paramedic are about equally desirable to me, nursing seems the way to go, financially speaking. I was thinking along the same lines with the WEMT and Mountain Medicine stuff. For RN do you think that where you get the degree matters as much?

What matters is basically three things: You graduated from a regionally accredited program (preferably one that's also ACEN or CCNE accredited), you have a license, and you earned a degree that's preferably a BSN.

[c27_AEMT, BSN, EMT-I]

Thanks akulahawkRN. I have read a few of your posts and had a question. If you had to do it again, would you still become a paramedic? Basically for RN I can start January 2016 because of where I live, my Army reserve obligations, and the fact that my wife has an ok job with upward mobility.

One program is an ADN one year program and the other is a two year Paramedic plus ADN program. I would follow EITHER of those with the RN-BSN. I am interested in flight, and even working as a Park Ranger (some of their positions require emt-p). These jobs are somewhat rare and difficult to get into though. I don't say this because nursing is a second option for me. The way I see it, I am interested in so many things, picking one is what I have to do and nursing comes out on top in that regard because of many factors. I don't know if it is what I would enjoy the most, but at this point (very little experience) I think I would enjoy it quite a bit and the variety, pay, and hours interest me.

**Before I get blasted for the hours and pay comment, I am coming from the military where 60 hour work weeks were the norm. I made about 48k including my non-taxed income (BAS&BAH)

Another question for anyone:

It is also a lifelong dream to work as a diplomat for the department of state but I would take a healthcare, armed, or diplomat position there. I have applied for their special agent position and just missed the final cut at the very end of the year long process. They also have mid levels (FNP) that they employ, so nursing could open that up to me. The diplomat position is a long term thing and you can apply until you are 50-something, in fact it takes many people years to get in.

I have gotten some negative responses from people (not here) saying "you have too many interests," "just pick ONE," and "don't do nursing if you want to do those other things," but I don't think you have to pick one thing and do that for life...I think being a nurse would be awesome but that doesn't mean it is something I would do forever if I got the chances to experience some of these other things. Hopefully this doesn't rub people the wrong way... Thoughts???