CNA or EMT Training??

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I was wondering which would be better to pursue while waiting to get into nursing school. If anyone here has had EMT training, or both, please tell me what you thought about it. I am leaning towards EMT for several reasons:

1. It seems like it would be more interesting than CNA class....I am a trauma junkie

2. It seems like the basics that are covered in a CNA class are covered in your first semester of nursing school....why take it twice?

3. The fields I am most interested in are ER, forensics (SAFE/SANE), ICU, and the OR. I think EMT training would better prepare me for these.

The one proplem I see is that there seems to be much more need for CNA's. Do EMT's only work in ambulances, or can they work in ER's of hospitals and the like too?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

On occasion, EMTs can be employed and utilized in the emergency departments of some acute care hospitals. They are also employed by many non-emergency transport companies to drive patients to and from routine doctors' appointments.

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Item number 1- you're an adrenaline junkie.

Go for the EMT. As an EMT, not only did I work in EMS, but I was able to get a job as a tech in the ER.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

It does sound like it would be fun! I work as a vet tech now in an emergency and specialty hospital. I love the ER and ICU work. We see some interesting stuff. Blood, guts, trauma, none of that bothers me. I am not sure how different it would be working with humans, but I would love to find out.

Does anyone know how the pay scale compares with CNA's and EMT's? I know about what CNA's make here (I am in Colorado, near Denver)....would an EMT make more or less, or would it depend on where the job was?

Thanks for the replies so far. I already contacted two EMT programs to ask them about it.

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Specializes in Anesthesia, CTICU.

Since I have experience in the EMS field, I can only comment on the EMT portion of your question (no CNA experience)....

I took my first EMT class when I was 19... since I was aspiring to work in the medical field, it seemed like the quickest way to gain practical medical knowledge and also serve as a potential job opportunity.

In the area where I live, most opportunities for EMTs are in the pre-hospital setting, whether it be working on an ambulance in the 911 system or for a company that provides non-911 transports for patients. Working in either setting will give you hands on training, which will ultimately increase your confidence in whatever future medical setting/field you choose to work. If you are a 'trauma junkie', then 911 work as an EMT-Basic sounds like your speed.... as long as you accept the fact that less than 5% of calls are true trauma calls (depends where u live too I guess)... you'll have to deal with ppl calling 911 for stubbed toes, getting a stomachache after eating a scone, and domestic disputes. While these sound quite mundane, if you desire a future in the ER, this is a great window to your future LOL Working 911, you will also learn to deal with handling high pressure / tension situations which is truly invaluable experience.

The other main option for EMT-Basics is to work in non-911 transports. Depending on your locality, sometimes these jobs are easier to come by as a new EMT. Where I am, many 911 jobs offerred thru hospitals are based on recommendations of people working there, so if you don't know someone, it may be tougher to enter the 911 market. EMTs in my area hospitals (NYC) generally make 16-20 per hr, while non-911 EMTs generally make about 12-16 per hour.

However, there is a also a great opportunity working non-911 if you are able to request working on an ALS transport unit. Working alongside a paramedic can be a great experience. You will learn about IVs, drip rates, common drugs, routes of administration, ventilators, cardiac monitoring.... stuff that can only help to know in the future. If you are in this situation, the best advise I can give is to ask alot of questions and display a willingness to be hands-on. Most paramedics will be more than willing to share their extensive cardiac and respiratory knowledge and training, and the more you learn from them, the easier their job will become. This was a situation I was in early on, and I decided to become a paramedic and gain critical experience before going on to become an RN.

Regarding EMTs working in-hospital, I did not have any luck in getting job offers where I live in NYC. I applied for a number of in-hospital 'ER tech' positions, but local hosps were not willing to hire based on EMT training. Of course, you may have a different outcome based upon facilities in your area.

Good Luck to you!

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EMT definitely . . . . you do spend the first part of nursing school doing CNA stuff. And EMT class covers physiology and anatomy to a certain extent in relating to an ambulance call. Way more than CNA does.

Good luck!

steph

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

You know what...if I had gone EMT/Paramedic like I truely wanted to...I would have stayed there! No way would I have gone onto nursing...it is just the way I am! I like the autonomy and quick descision making much better that I do working in med surge (but I like med surge too! I do get my emergencies! Our ER sucks, so I don't even go there! LOL!). You get to work with ONE patient and really concentrate on their needs...much more concentrated attention than that person will ever get in hospital or health facility! I would never be able to give that up for working with more folks like I do now!

Well...go figure, I got a grant to RN school and took it, but to this day I still dream and wonder what I would be like if I had continued with what I truely wanted...so here is my advice...

Check into your local ambulance companies (like with my area, they are all private pay companies, some states are state run). Talk to paramedics and other EMT's about what it is like in the area you choose. Some have many runs, but of code ones...taking little grandma home...and in the meantime you MAY get another type of call...maybe... While others are more trauma related accidents, or even more medical emergencies...it really does depend on where you work! Like my neck of the woods...lots of elderly homes...so guess which one my loving Paramedics/EMTs do all day...LOL!

If you can ask to speak to someone in that company that is going to nursing school as well...total bonus! I know my husbands company (he is paramedic) has about three right now and would love to help give advice if asked by someone coming in!

Really think hard within yourself...is EMT something that you will regret NOT doing??? If you even have a slight hint that it would...go EMT!!!! You will learn more in 5 minutes if you pay attention that you learn in a month or two in RN school.

How do I know that...I spent 6 weeks as a ride along (when it was allowed) and learned info I still use to this day (now a code team leader for my whole hospital) and their company adores me, and still gives me opportunities like CME for free because I do so much PR for them! :) So I am only a EMT PR Proxy...it works! LOL!!!!

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Specializes in LDRP.

If ya like trauma, go EMT. I did the CNA thing and was quite franly miserable. GL!

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My fiance is an EMT, and he loves it. He had to take some A&P classes so it'll prepare you for nursing school well.

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I did volunteer EMT before going into the accelerated BSN program and I think the CNA would actually have been more useful. As an EMT I always have at least two other people to help me move the patient, for instance. Moving, bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, taking care of multiple patients - I still don't have enough experience imo.

You can't get an ER tech job around here without at least a year of experience as an EMT.

If you're a trauma junkie, what you get depends on your area. Here in safe suburbia, almost all the calls are for illness not trauma.

But EMT is still a whole lot more fun than CNA ;)

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

Two words: EMT

OOps!

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Specializes in Emergency.

If it were a few months ago, like early November, I'd suggest becoming a ski patroller. The training is essentially the same as EMT-B but with a heavy slant toward trauma (go figure). The big differences between an EMT-B and a patroller are:

1) you're by yourself when you get to the patient. You WILL learn how to perform a fast and thorough assessment.

2) you don't have much equipment. Pocket mask, some 4 bys, couple of 5 bys, kling, tape, cravats, SAM splint, oral airways, that's pretty much it. That's unless you're checking with a loaded sled. Don't do that at my mountain. Your most important piece of equipment is between your ears.

3) ain't nobody or nothing coming until you call for it. And then you still have to wait.

4) the rig is far away. Far far away.

5) your patient will most likely be on an angle. A steep angle. Wrapped around tree. With multi-system trauma. Unconscious.

6) you will become a wizard with duct tape.

7) a sled is easier to drive on ice than a rig.

Anyway, go for the EMT.

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