Can a nurse be an EMT??

rn/writer, RN · May 6, 2009

In every state that I am aware of, you will need to take a good part of the training, if not the entire course. Why? Because even though you have A&P and know how to do a lot of procedures, pre-hospital care is a whole 'nother animal. We all share the same priorities--ABCs--but EMTs also have to learn things like extrication and packaging, cribbing a vehicle and checking scene safety, how to use a stair chair and how to insert a Combi-tube (if your service uses them).

I would suggest asking to do a couple of ride-alongs, preferrably with a municipal fire department.

With your background, you should be able to do well in EMT training without busting your brain too badly, but you might be surprised at how much there is to learn.

Let us know what you decide.

LiveLoveDreamRN · May 6, 2009

I know here in FL you must go through an EMT program. I have 5 years of experience (years ago) in the fire department, there are things you do not learn in nursing school that you need on the street. Good luck in finding a job.

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

uhhhh..... can a nurse be an emt???... sure... if you do it first..

if you can't find work as a nurse than you are in the wrong area!..

where i live it is harder to find an emt job than a nursing job....

i was an emt for quite a few years... then went on and got my emt-p and worked flight... *thus my name*.... and then i went on to nursing school... many more job opportunities.... i work prn flight.. but i spend most of my working hours in the ER.....

i have never heard of a nurse wanting to work as an emt.......

nothing against emt's.... they are my ppl!!....

but you should try harder... .there are plenty of nursing jobs out there!!!

:cool:

vamedic4, EMT-P · May 6, 2009

As usual, rn/writer is spot on. Keep looking for employment as an RN. If you wish to, you can take an EMT course but you can't usually "test out" simply because you're an RN. It will help you understand what is covered in EMT class, but as rn/writer said, the EMTs focus is much different than the focus of an RN, with different skills sets. I hope you find a job soon, I can't imagine how frustrated you must be.

All the best...

vamedic4

Trauma Columnist · May 6, 2009

Illinois has a pre-hospital RN license which involves a 16 hour course. However, I am sure that the license is only good in IL. Maybe your state has this option?

Epona · May 6, 2009

Thanks everyone! In reference to the jobs... I have been applying since DECEMBER for a job and have had no luck. I have two degrees and will be an honor grad. and still no job. It's a real bummer... I guess EMT is a whole another endeavor... I thought it might be something I could do in the meanwhile until I got something in nursing.... something quick to do... I guess not. Oh well. Thank you for all the replies. :specs:

GilaRRT · May 6, 2009

You are going to be hard pressed to find a good paying EMT job. People are lining up to volly, let alone work for money. Regarding the school question: a BSN in nursing prepares you to work in the pre-hospital environment as well as paramedic school prepares you to work as a nurse on a medical floor. Essentially, not at all.

caliotter3 · May 6, 2009

I doubt you will be able to find an EMT job without EMT certification. The jobs I have seen listed for EMT offer pay that is substantially lower than that of an LPN. Better than minimum wage, but not spectacular and you need to be EMT certified.

nessajune21 · May 6, 2009

You cannot work as an EMT without a state or national certification. There are so many things that I learned in EMT training that we never discussed in nursing school and the contexts of practice are two different worlds.

Perhaps instead of looking at what else you can do you could look at what more you can do. Contact unit managers at hospitals directly about RN positions- and keep contacting them. The more you contact them, the more fresh you will be in their minds.

Good luck!

rnffemtguy, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

People are lining up to volly, let alone work for money.

Gila, you have them lining up to volly?, can you send some of them our way? :specs: We have 18 EMT's and run a little over 1000 EMS calls a year....not a good ratio LOL.....and nobody is knocking down the doors to get in. I'm the Co-Chair of both our investigating & membership recruitment committes so I could use the help.... :yeah:

To the OP, I don't beleive any state allows anyone to test out as a basic EMT, regardless of training, without taking the full basic course at a minimum (current DOT basic course = 150 hours, give or take). As other posters have pointed out, it's a whole different skill set, I learned alot in nursing school that didn't transfer to being an EMT and vice versa. That being said I do have to say if you're looking for experience in patient contact/care, by all means find an EMT training program, as there are skills that cross transfer between EMS & nursing & look great on a resume for a nursing job. Also, as an aside, some states allow RN's who are also basic EMT's with ACLS training challenge out the Paramedic test/cert.

I do have to agree with other posters not to give up on finding a nursing job, they are out there to be had, it might come down to having to relocate or settle for something that might not initially pique your interest, but I can almost 100% guarantee they are going to pay ALOT more than any job in EMS and give you the needed nursing experience......

I do have to say if it weren't for my experience as an EMT I would have never went to nursing school.

This is the advice from an volunteer EMT and paid RN :bugeyes:

Best of luck to you........

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 6, 2009

... We have 18 EMT's and run a little over 1000 EMS calls a year....not a good ratio LOL.....and nobody is knocking down the doors to get in. I'm the Co-Chair of both our investigating & membership recruitment committes so I could use the help...

We have recruitment issues where I am as well. We solved our personnel issue (and that of another squad) by merging. PM me if you want details on how we went about a successful merger, as much politics were involved :icon_roll

To the OP, ditto on what everybody else said. Keep at the search. Are you talking to HR? If so, try to get the name of the nurse recruiter. HR's job is to turn you away. Get past them and talk to the folks who actually hire. Nurse recruiter contact info can usually be found somewhere in the nursing career section of a hospital's website.

Good luck.