Can RN's function as paramedics in the prehospital setting with certain certifications?

[jeremypcaldwell]

Hi Everyone,

I'm an RN and also a firefighter in Ohio. Recently my department decided to force us all to become paramedics at our own expense. Some of us are RN's but not paramedics. I am trying to find out if there are certifications which allow the RN to perform intubation, IO's, and Needle Decompression. Us RN/Firefighters are all ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS certified.

There seems to be this "...measuring contest" between RN's and EMT-P's. Not looking for how the 2 disciplines are different or one is better than the other. Just want to know if RN's can perform intubation, IO's, and Needle Decompression as say a CTRN or a CFRN.

Thanks

[heinz57]

Those things are in the scope of practice for nurses in most states but, you have to still follow the policies for each employment type. Nurses working flight and on specialty transport teams have no problem training and doing those skills. But, when you get into the male dominated world of EMS, even if male, they go to great lengths to stereotype all nurses as helpless females who have zero thinking ability and must have a male doctor provide every order.

Fortunately I think Ohio might still have the RN to Paramedic course which is not very long.

http://www.centralohemstraining.com

I think there are other places offering this course and much of it is online .

Most of the weekend courses are not a certificate to perform but merely of attendance. They often have the same disclaimer as ACLS..."don't do this unless you have it in your employment protocols". But they are still useful and often requiredo prerequisites.

Other states have a Prehospital RN license designation which is much better because you cold have the ability do all the skills, medications and ICU procedures of the RN as well as prehospital if needed per your medical director. If you work only under the title of Paramedic, your scope of practice may be very limited especially for medications and ICU equipment.

Check out

State of Ohio Emergency Medical Services Board Education Committee ...

[jeremypcaldwell]

Thanks. This information is very helpful. You are 100% correct about them stereotyping nurses as helpless females, even though I am a male nurse. Yet they ask for my help when they get stumped. lol.

However I will say that the best paramedics I work with don't do that to me. They are happy to have me on their team and express their feelings of relief when they see me at a difficult scene where loss of life is probable. I will check with my medical director if he is okay with me functioning with the CTRN cert, since we dont have PHRN in Ohio. If not I'll look into the program you gave the link to. Thanks again.