EMT-B into Nursing

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Hey everyone! I was curious if any of you were EMT's before you went into Nursing. I am currently an EMT-B on a volunteer squad and enjoy it very much. I was contemplating becomeing a paramedic, but decided that I would enjoy Nursing more because of the variety it offers and also because of the more advanced abilities that go along with it. So my question is while going to nursing school (in between semesters) would it be possible to continue working as an EMT-B. The reason I am asking is because I am finding it hard to invision finding the time to do the continuing Ed. for my Basic course, and after freshman year I might be working In a clinic doing an internship for Nursing. If any of you have been in this situation and found some way to juggle both, please share. Thanks

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hi there! i am an emt-b, for almost 3 years now and have a spot in the fall start of the rn program at my local cc. i have completed most of my pre-reqs (last ones i am doing now on line). i had the same worry about clinicals and such along with still getting my con-eds. but i figure with planning and thought it can blend together. as for the con-eds, i try to take as many i am able to along the way, or taking advantage of when there are the large weekend seminars that will give many if not all the con-eds i would need. this is the basic plan of attack i have come up with so to speak: work right along on my con-eds, if i am falling short by the due date i will take a weekend seminar to finish them up (i don't know where you are but here in pa over the summer there is one up in owego ny and they hold one in the poconos). this will keep my status current for the next three years, as i will only have the next 2 years tied up for my nursing classes that would leave me one year to then get my con-eds covered. as for working as an emt during this time, i think it would be a good mix. the downtime can be used as study time, and you will also have the advantage of knowing the folks in your local hospitals to help explain things if you need it. at least that is my basic plan, now i admit things could change but i feel that by having a basic plan and the desire it can be made to work. (positive thoughts help make it possible - that is a motto someone once told me)

as for being an emt-p, my boyfriend wade does that, infact he was one of the people that made me realize things can work. he was an emt-b and worked at a factory and owns his own mobile dj service, he wanted his paramedic and worked his butt off to get it. he would work 10 - 12 hour days at the factory, go to night school and run night clinicals. funcitoned on 2 hours of sleep quite often and weekends were a huge jumble of study, djing, and clinicals. i was his support staff when he needed to rant or needed help with the dj business and now he is my support for my journey.

the "secrets" i have learned so far, stay positive - keep the thought in your head that you want it and will get there, also, it will really help if your friends/family/partner-wife-girlfriend is supportive. time will be limited and as long as those around you are understanding to the this fact it can be done fairly well.

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Wow! This is exactly what I want to do. Next semester I want to take a EMT-B course, and also finish my prereqs for RN. Then I will have a whole summer and semester to wait until nursing school in spring 2012 so I want to get a job as an EMT and work my way through nursing school. But wow! This really helps! I first doubted that I could do it but now I see that it can be done. Thanks brat18623!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

go for it. i dont see why you cant work & go to school lots of people do it. and the hours are a bit more flexible than a regular job

man lots of EMT's popping up around here lately

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