Are Nurses Considered "First Responders?"

[SunnyPupRN]

I often see certain promotions for "first responders" but the examples listed include police, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs. Last night there was one at a restaurant where people could buy a FR a drink. At the county fair there was a discount for FR.

Do you consider yourself a First Responder?

[NurseCard, ADN]

No, generally a first responder is a person who arrives on scene at an accident, fire, or medical emergency, and is paid to do so. I don't know if there are any nursing specialties out there that fit that bill.

Edit: oops.. some firefighters and other FR's are NOT

paid, but are voluntary. However they have still

received adequate training to do their jobs in the

field. A nurse who is first on a scene, i.e. a "good

Samaritan", is NOT trained and in my opinion, should

call 911, perform CPR if necessary, and then get

out of the way.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Are Nurses First Responders?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

SunnyPupRN said:

I often see certain promotions for "first responders" but the examples listed include police, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs. Last night there was one at a restaurant where people could buy a FR a drink. At the county fair there was a discount for FR.

Do you consider yourself a First Responder?

I am a first responder, but not in my role as an RN. I'm a Paramedic and have been able to function in that role for more than 15 years. Nurses, unless they're specifically trained for the prehospital role, have no clue how to function in the field in a first responder role. There are things taught even to basic EMTs that nurses aren't taught in nursing school. Nothing in the basic RN education teaches the RN how to be a first responder in any capacity beyond that of basic first aid.

Therefore generally speaking, no, nurses are not first responders. Those nurses that do function in a first responder capacity, I do not refer to you because you're specifically trained for this.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I never considered myself a first responder- even in the ED.

[Wuzzie]

Nope, nope and nope!

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I would consider a flight nurse to be a first responder.

[Wuzzie]

Rocknurse said:

I would consider a flight nurse to be a first responder.

But they aren't. They are not the first to the scene they are called by the first responders!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Nope - & I have always been mighty glad of that. I feel better if I at least have some diagnostic history on the patient that is upchucking on my Nikes.

[spsheezy]

I, being a critical care nurse and on the hospital code response team, am a first responder. When a non-patient collapses in the hospital halls, rooms, the parking lot, etc we don't call 911 and wait for the paramedics to tell us what to do. No, we respond and provide emergency medical care immediately. Not every nurse plays this role but many do and they are certainly, without a doubt, capable first responders. Period.

Furthermore, any nurse who runs towards an emergency rather than away is a first responder regardless if they are in a hospital or not.

[Wuzzie]

In the context of the OP, no, nurses are not first responders. Don't steal their honor.

Signed,

Wuzzie, EMT-P, National Ski Patroller and a nurse too (ex-flight nurse FTR)

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

The Legal Definitions of "First Responder" | The Legal Definitions of “First Responder” | The National Academies Press