Challenging paramedic exam

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Hi! I was wondering what states allow nurses to challenge the paramedic exam? Thank you!

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Specializes in ED, Informatics, Clinical Analyst.

NJ has an MICN (mobile intensive care nurse) certification which functions the same as the MICP (mobile intensive care paramedic) certification. I don't know what the requirements are (I was a paramedic there) but if you call the office of EMS I'm sure they can fill you in.

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Here is a 2008 survery by the NASEMSO from some of the states that tell which professions can test out of the Paramedic exam.

http://www.nasemso.org/NewsAndPublications/News/documents/NASEMSOsurvey051208.pdf

Some like Florida require the EMT-B and then you just challenge their state exam.

The states using the NREMT might get a little more complicated.

California, which was not listed, but does allow after some requirements are met. The link below describes that process.

http://www.emsa.ca.gov/paramedic/files/FrequentlyAskedQuestionsRevOct2010.pdf

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

In CO you can challenge the test but you also need to do a number of hours of precepted rides.

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Thanks!

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Specializes in CCT.

Do you think perhaps you might be doing yourself, potential employers and potential patients a serious disservice to become certified with no education or training on the prehospital environment to back it up?

Put another way, how would you feel about paramedics "challenging" NCLEX? Do you think they would be prepared for a med surg assignment?

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Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

In NY you can challenge the medic exam as an RN but you must be an EMT first.

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The NCLEX is a silly exam. IMHO anybody who wants it can have it. It's the type of exam that you could have a panel of monkeys take (blindfolded) (with the Kaplan prep course/or studying on their own) and they would do just as well if not better... because no real medical/nursing knowledge is needed to take it, nothing about it is reality/practice/evidence-based.

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Specializes in CCT.
The NCLEX is a silly exam. IMHO anybody who wants it can have it. It's the type of exam that you could have a panel of monkeys take (blindfolded) (with the Kaplan prep course/or studying on their own) and they would do just as well if not better... because no real medical/nursing knowledge is needed to take it, nothing about it is reality/practice/evidence-based.

So the point is not really NCLEX (I've helped friends study, I have no doubt with a bit of preperation I could pass the exam) it's that even if I passed I would be massively unprepared for a 6 patient med surg assignment. The point I'm trying to get across is that a nurse with no specific out-of-hospital education is going to be jus as massively unprepared to take care of patients in that unique environment. The NREMT-P exam is just as silly as NCLEX and has about the same bearing on the reality of you being able to function in that role.

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Do you think perhaps you might be doing yourself, potential employers and potential patients a serious disservice to become certified with no education or training on the prehospital environment to back it up?

The information for challenging the Paramedic can be used by anyone who feels they can take a test and has a decent reason for taking it. It is a loophole that can not be filled up because of the inconsistency in EMS education, accreditation and even testing. There are also nurses who may come from other countries with Nurse led EMS systems that far exceed the education and experience of the U.S. Paramedics who could be a welcome addition to any EMS agency or teaching faculty. The employer should be able to determine if a person is the right fit for their agency. In some places, the Paramedic cert is merely a formality to satisfy some state statute and it will the experience and license as an RN they will be using. Someone could also hold a Paramedic cert obtained through a full training program and not have been provided with adequate training yet still have the license. Again, the employer should determine the right person for the job.

Put another way, how would you feel about paramedics "challenging" NCLEX? Do you think they would be prepared for a med surg assignment?

There are educational requirements from an accredited training program that must be met first and nursing does it better with some consistency. Until EMS establishes the same consistency with increased education requirements in different areas with more clinicals and accreditation, this is a moot point. However, that is not to say that a Paramedic from another country might not come close to meeting those requirements and the board may review their clinical hours and background.
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A topic that is sure to fire up both on this debate indeed. Having first been a Paramedic and EMT for over 30 years and then completing my RN I think I can address this issue. First these are two completely different schools of thought and training, and simply being one does not make it that you are going to be able to function as the other. Nurses are trained differently period! To be a solo EMS provider is NOT for everyone, the "street" smarts that are needed to survive, or your patients survive, is not taught in a class room. Paramedic training requires much more hands on learning for a reason. Sorry, but RN school didn't come close. I would be very leery of letting a RN that challenged a Paramedic cert work on my family, by the way that is the ultimate complement in the Paramedic world - to have your co-workers tell you that you are one of the few that they would let work on their family!

The Nursing world told me very clearly that my experience as a medic is not experience as a Nurse and in reverse I feel the same way, experience as a Nurse is NOT experience as a Paramedic.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
NJ has an MICN (mobile intensive care nurse) certification which functions the same as the MICP (mobile intensive care paramedic) certification. I don't know what the requirements are (I was a paramedic there) but if you call the office of EMS I'm sure they can fill you in.

NJ will allow a challenge to EMT-B but it needs to be taken with a core 13. MICN requires additional classes and exams.

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