Becoming an ER Nurse

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Specializes in none.

I am extreemly interested in getting into the emergency medicine field. Eventually working my way up to being a flight nurse (maybe). I am currently enrolled in a LPN program at a Community College in KCMO. Ive heard of Medic to RN Programs and i realy need someone to help explain the processes it takes and a general timeline (so im not jumping the gun) to expect to get through this. My Fiance' is currently an EMT-B (he is taking the firefighter rout) and helping him with his studies reiterated how much i would like to get into Emergency Medicine. I am currently working on a med-surg unit at a local hospital.

Which way do you recommend medic-RN or RN-Medic or just get your RN?? I have heard that by getting your medic you get more $$$ and a better idea of whats going on.

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Specializes in ICU,ER.

Personally, I would just get my RN first. I'm not so sure that you would make that much more as an RN/Medic.

As far as experience, being a medic out in the field and an RN in the ER are very different.

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Specializes in Nothing but ER.

I would advise becoming a nurse first. Most medic programs will let you test out ER time and stuff like that if you are an ER nurse. Whereas very few nursing programs will let you test out of nursing stuff if you are a medic cause its a whole different ball-park. Medics do not make more money than RN's. They make significantly less. I am going to do the Nurse to Medic thing, for this reason. Also if you want to be a flight nurse, you need several years of nursing experience before they will let you apply. So I would advise getting your RN and then getting your medic. Just my 2 cents. But I have looked into this quite a bit so my 2 cents may be worth something!;)

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

A few more 2 cents :) I would also advise to go for your RN first, then test into the medic side and do your clinicals. Most flight services require at least 2 years of ER or ICU time (actually, some require 2, many require 5). Most of the flight nurses I know were medics with pretty good experience before becoming nurses and then flying. BUT none of them started off wanting to be nurses; they just started as medics and slowly evolved. I've talked a lot with all of them, and while medic experience is really beneficial, good trauma RN experience is great too. Most services pair an RN with an EMT-P, so your skills are complementary.

The moral of my post? Get your RN, get a job in a good gory Level I ER, transition to get your medic if possible, get your experience and fly. You will be much more marketable as an RN than a medic and the length of your education will be shorter.

Good luck!

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Specializes in none.

should I get my BSN or would a simple bridge program to ADN be sufficiant

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

It really just depends on your ultimate goal.

If you want to be a strong candidate for an RN flight job - true paramedic credentials AND the field experience may set you apart.

Otherwise, most flight programs require 3 - 5 years of GOOD ED or ICU (both, are a plus) experience and some of the alphabet soup. Many require more of the alphabet soup and Board Certification after hire.

Keep some perspective - the RN shortage is real and has trickled over to the flight area in some markets.

I know of no other way than medic first. I also know that although I may have the RN and the experience, I remain a medic first. I've known a lot of medics that went toward the light (of $$$$) that nursing offers, but I cannot think of ANY that find nursing BETTER than paramedic.

NOBODY will pay me any more for being a medic/RN.

Finish school. Get your paramedic. Get your RN. Work really hard for 10 years and you can PICK your flight job.

Good Luck ;)

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Specializes in Emergency.
It really just depends on your ultimate goal.

I know of no other way than medic first. I also know that although I may have the RN and the experience, I remain a medic first. I've known a lot of medics that went toward the light (of $$$$) that nursing offers, but I cannot think of ANY that find nursing BETTER than paramedic.

I'm happy you are proud of being a medic and like that profession better. I am an RN/medic who likes nursing better and I've several co-workers of the same mind. Actually, this nurse vs medic "I'm better than you" stuff gets pretty tiresome. Both are great professions. They are totally different and cannot be compared. Neither one is "better" or worse than the other. It just depends on what you like to do.

Now, I read the original post as saying that you'd like to get into emergency medicine and might someday want to go into flight nursing. If I were you, I'd shadow some shifts or do some volunteering in your ER. Do some ride-alongs or volunteer with your local EMS squad. Get a feel for what day-to-day work in each profession is like. Then make your choice of schools. Once you get some experience under your belt, you can better make a choice whether you want to pick up additional training and move toward flight nursing.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Med-Surg, now in ED.

Stay in school, get your RN. Then go ahead and go after your medic. I just recently got my EMT-B licensure after 3yrs as an RN on a cardiac med-surg floor. I was just hired into an ED position. I love emergency medicine, so I understand the interest. I questioned about challenging the Medic test, and our EMS director for this area said they no longer allow RNs to challenge the Board, so I'm going the long route. I will get my Medic, and I would love to work Med-Flight. New to the forum(tryign not to step on toes) but I agree with whoever said to try and shadow in the ED, and, if allowed, do some ride time with your local EMS. Enlist your fiance's help with that.

As far as the $$$ issue, EMS personnel are severely underpaid for the job they do. But the money isn't the issue for most of them. You have to love the work. That goes for RNs as well.

Good Luck, and keep your dreams alive.

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