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SO, I realllly love my job in the ER started in the ER as a new grad, hated it at first, now that Im finally starting to feel a little more at ease I've been wondering what kind of jobs are out there that ER nurses can venture into but along the same line of work of course,I know that I need to stay in the ER for a while to gain more experience but I was always like to plan for the future!
I live in IL and we have pre-hospital RNs which is an actual license from the BON. You are either certified at the BLS or ALS level. I volunteer with my rural fire dept and absolutely love it - been doing it for 11 years.
Also, with my 10 years level one trauma center experience, I got an APN job where I was chosen over 5 other applicants because of my ability to think on my feet.
I know. As I will be as well. I'm saying why go backwards from nurse to fireman?
Being a FF is a totally different career. Many have made the move from health care to another occupation such as IT, machinist or bus driver for whatever reasons. If an EMT or Paramedic cert is required to make that transition, it shouldn't be that difficult for an RN to do this in the U.S.
Also, after reading several of your posts, you seem to be under the impression that FFs are all firemen and Paramedics are all men with nurses being only females. It hasn't been that way for well over 30 years.
Ah, I see. Come to think of it, I don't really know anyone who went RN-to-Paramedic, rather than vice-versa.
Several RNs who work Flight get their Paramedic cert usually by testing out after they take the 2 week EMT cert. They will also take the weekend Paramedic refresher and a PHTLS class just to be well versed on the prehospital first-aid. They, however, work under the RN license and not the Paramedic cert.
There have been several nurses who are finding it difficult to obtain RN jobs that are considering applying to the FDs and taking their chances out of 1000s of applicants. The FD does offer job security and if it also has a HEMS program, they may be able to use their RN as well. But, if the Med Director only writes for the Paramedic cert and scope of practice, they will have to be RNs outside of the FD. Some RNs have even found that hospital work doesn't appeal to them due to the large number of patients and "fussy little stuff" they must do for the patients and do go to the FDs, leaving their RN license behind. That may not occur that often but it happens when some EMTs or Paramedics go through a bridge or Excelsior program without doing any or very few clinicals to see what it is like or just want the nursing degree just for the money. When Excelsior was accepted, we had alot of paper holding RNs who only worked as Paramedics and never as an RN.
There was one girl who tested at my National Registry site who had just completed the community college's one-semester RN-to-P program, and I don't think she did well with the practicals. She was a nervous wreck!
It all depends on their experience and how bad they want to be a Paramedic or if the cert is required for some job. The written test is not very difficult at all and neither are the practicals if one takes a refresher or prep course which is usually just one, maybe two weekends at the most. I don't know of any RN who has worked Flight or wanted an EMS job who has ever had a problem with the NREMT Paramedic test. Those that just do it for a patch and right out of nursing school may have a more difficult time.
Now if this was for EMS in another country, that would be something totally different but RNs also have more avenues in EMS elsewhere with post-grad work.
As I said, I don't personally know anyone who has gone the RN-to-P direction, but what you wrote makes sense.
If I could have gone to work as a medic without the FF aspect (it's just not my thing), I might have gone in that direction only instead of into nursing. However, most jurisdictions where I live require medics to be FF as well. All's well that ends well. :)
GreyGull, are you a medic? RN? Both? Neither? :)
Being a FF is a totally different career. Many have made the move from health care to another occupation such as IT, machinist or bus driver for whatever reasons. If an EMT or Paramedic cert is required to make that transition, it shouldn't be that difficult for an RN to do this in the U.S.Also, after reading several of your posts, you seem to be under the impression that FFs are all firemen and Paramedics are all men with nurses being only females. It hasn't been that way for well over 30 years.
Several RNs who work Flight get their Paramedic cert usually by testing out after they take the 2 week EMT cert. They will also take the weekend Paramedic refresher and a PHTLS class just to be well versed on the prehospital first-aid. They, however, work under the RN license and not the Paramedic cert.
There have been several nurses who are finding it difficult to obtain RN jobs that are considering applying to the FDs and taking their chances out of 1000s of applicants. The FD does offer job security and if it also has a HEMS program, they may be able to use their RN as well. But, if the Med Director only writes for the Paramedic cert and scope of practice, they will have to be RNs outside of the FD. Some RNs have even found that hospital work doesn't appeal to them due to the large number of patients and "fussy little stuff" they must do for the patients and do go to the FDs, leaving their RN license behind. That may not occur that often but it happens when some EMTs or Paramedics go through a bridge or Excelsior program without doing any or very few clinicals to see what it is like or just want the nursing degree just for the money. When Excelsior was accepted, we had alot of paper holding RNs who only worked as Paramedics and never as an RN.
It all depends on their experience and how bad they want to be a Paramedic or if the cert is required for some job. The written test is not very difficult at all and neither are the practicals if one takes a refresher or prep course which is usually just one, maybe two weekends at the most. I don't know of any RN who has worked Flight or wanted an EMS job who has ever had a problem with the NREMT Paramedic test. Those that just do it for a patch and right out of nursing school may have a more difficult time.
Now if this was for EMS in another country, that would be something totally different but RNs also have more avenues in EMS elsewhere with post-grad work.
Can you ever reply to my posts without coming off like some cocky know-it-all?
No one here thinks that the fire service is all male or that nursing is all female. Where's the eye roll emoticon?
Can you ever reply to my posts without coming off like some cocky know-it-all?
Some of my posts may come off as "cocky" or "know it all" if you do not have much experience in the areas of the topic.
Looking back I asked you about nursing education in your profile and you stated you were not even a nurse. In that thread I was discussing with you at a level of a nurse educator. Later you stated you were a police officer and an EMT. In this thread I believe you have stated being a Paramedic and a FF. I apologize if some of my posts come off with more information than you want but after almost 40 years of working on ambulances and in the hospitals, I refuse to always write and talk like I'm teaching a 6th grade class. Life's experience may come off crude and even a little rude to you if you are still very young and have yet to acquire many of the good and bad experiences that come with the growing up process which still goes on even at 60 and beyond.
Back to the topic.
Universal Studios and Disneyland employ RNs. I recently saw at ad for an RN at Universal Studios, Hollywood.
I've heard that working for the Mouse has some decent perks and benefits.
The American Red Cross employs RNs for local, national and international positions.
Occupational Health or Industrial RNs can get jobs at major construction sites, large manufacturers and coal mines.
Local and state disaster preparedness offices may also utilize RNs but more as a liasion with health care facilities and EMS agencies. The state EMS office may also have employment opportunities for RNs especially if you have a BSN or MSN.
Some of my posts may come off as "cocky" or "know it all" if you do not have much experience in the areas of the topic.Looking back I asked you about nursing education in your profile and you stated you were not even a nurse. In that thread I was discussing with you at a level of a nurse educator. Later you stated you were a police officer and an EMT. In this thread I believe you have stated being a Paramedic and a FF. I apologize if some of my posts come off with more information than you want but after almost 40 years of working on ambulances and in the hospitals, I refuse to always write and talk like I'm teaching a 6th grade class. Life's experience may come off crude and even a little rude to you if you are still very young and have yet to acquire many of the good and bad experiences that come with the growing up process which still goes on even at 60 and beyond.
Yep, worked two jobs. Full-time law enforcement. Part-time paramedic. Vollie FF from 2002-2009.
I know. As I will be as well. I'm saying why go backwards from nurse to fireman?
Going backwards???
I've never done fire (I didn't want to shave off my beard:eek:, so I did EMS for 19 years instead), but some folks love running into burning structures while (sane) people are running out. More power to them! A local ER doc ran as a volunteer firefighter because he LOVED doing it. He was also certified as a volunteer EMT (not paramedic). He ran on the ambulance because he loved doing it.
In my not so humble opinion, being in the fire service or EMS is NOT "backwards" from an exalted most holy top-of-the-heap (cough, choke, gasp, snicker-snicker) nurse position. It is merely different. As GreyGull pointed out, some might do the fire thing for job security, pension, or other financial reasons.
Some go into the fire service out of boredom and a desire to learn a challenging skill set, whether it be heavy rescue/extrication, swift water rescue, HazMat certification, or incident command.
Others go from being a nurse or physician or lawyer or whatever to firefighter/EMS due to the adrenaline rush they get when responding to an unstable situation out in the field. This may especially be the case while they're newbies, before they reach the point of just grumbling (no adrenaline) when the tone drops at 2AM & yanks them from a sound sleep in their toasty-warm bed.
Others do it out of a strong desire to give something back to their local community.
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
Ah, yes, the practicals. I do remember students nervous enough to vomit. What memories. :)