EMT-B to ER Nurse

[EMS_Rhino]

I am currently a certified EMT, but I am not working as an EMT. I have been really considering nursing school and I have decided that if I were to do that, I would like to work in the ER. So, here's the issue.

I have been in and out of a couple schools trying to figure out what I want to do. My GPA has suffered because of this and I fear that I will not be able to get in to a good school and taken seriously. Up until I started the EMT stuff, I hadn't found anything that I had a passion for. I took EMT classes and passed with a great grade, but my GPA is still low.

My question is how deep of a hole have I dug myself and is it something schools and hospitals are willing to work with? If anyone has gone the same route, or experienced similar issues, any and all help/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I'm new to this site, and have already found it extremely helpful. So thank you all!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

post moved for best response :)

[Fireman767]

Well the EMT will more than likely help you get an ER job post college, it won't help you in nursing school. I myself have been an EMT-B for about 6 years and started nursing school a year ago. the EMT will help get you into a few programs because you have experience in the medical field, but thats the limit of it. Many EMTs don't do well, since EMTs follow the medical method and nurses follow the nursing method. many EMTs have levels of arrogance (i did and didnt know it), jump right to conclusions or arent good with adapting to nursing. but this is besides the point, and back to the topic. You may want to consider an ADN route to get your RN, as that generally has lower GPA requirements. otherwise take more classes to pull your GPA up.

[FutureAspirations]

Your best bet is probably to start with a clean slate as far as classes go. Don't give up though, and take it from me that if you want it bad enough....you'll get it!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Look at the ADN programs first. Why? While their GPA requirements are a little lower, their science GPA isn't. Check their prerequisite courses and see if you have any of those classes done, and what your grades are in those classes. If you haven't taken any prerequisites, great! It's your chance to start off on the right foot again. Work your backside off. Get at least B's (A's are far better) in those courses and make sure that you maximize your prerequisite GPA. Once you've completed your prerequisites and some co-requisites, you'll do much better and you'll have a better GPA because of your efforts. You may have to take courses elsewhere to have them "cover" some of your lower grades, but at least it's a start!

Get the list of prerequisites (coursework and other requirements) and you'll have your roadmap for where you need to be. It's up to you to fill in that roadmap with a solid path to your goal.

Good luck!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

You might want to get your paramedic certification and then do a bridge program paramedic-RN. That might get you in the door to an RN program with a lower GPA.