EMT-P Question

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I heard a rumor that nurses can sit for the EMT-P exam without going through the course as long as they hold an EMT-B and RN. It's probably different from state to state but does anyone know if that's true or in which states?

It depends on the state. But not one state will let you sit for boards without doing required work like clinical hours ALS contacts, intubations and other paperwork deemed necesary. I know an RN in Montana can become a paramedic after doing some required work but it is time consuming and requires a lot more than just sitting for the national registry exam.

Check out this site if, found it searching one night. Allows an RN to get paramedic certification rather quickly- matter of weeks as oposed to months.

http://ems.creighton.edu/rnp.htm

Rj:rolleyes:

Creighton's program is INTENSE! I know a bunch of RN / EMT-Ps who have been through their program and they say it is really tough. Also, they don't take just any RN...you have to have critical care experience and a certain number of years experience.

Someone can become certified as an EMT cold off the street in a matter of months?

(Am I the only one that finds that just a little bit scarey?)

Someone can become certified as an EMT cold off the street in a matter of months?

(Am I the only one that finds that just a little bit scarey?)

Becoming an EMT regularly only takes a couple months, if not only one month depending on the class shedule. It is the becoming a paramedic in a couple months that some people might not like the idea of. I personally feel that if an RN has years of critical care experience, ER and ICU specifically, and have been an EMT previously, there are not many skills that they would need to be trained with. Intubation, needle decompression, and a few other skills would need to be learned, but in general the assessment and management of patients are quite similar to the ER setting. Any ER nurse with a good amount of experience, with a couple months training, could make a GREAT paramedic...it all depends on the person and how they handle having to work on the street.

The EMT-Basic class I took was 180 hours in the classroom, plus 25 hours ER clinical, and 25 hours field time. It's a really intense class and the National Registry exam is NOT easy. EMTs practice under STRICT protocols and at the basic level, there is honestly very little that they can do that would actually harm someone...there are, however things they could fail to do that might harm someone...

In WVa an RN can "challenge" the EMT-P test to become a pre-hospital RN with ACLS, PALS, NALS BTLS/PHTLS and a 48 hour EMT refresher course.

I agree with Biffs25, there is no reason that an RN shouldn't be allowed to gain prehospital certification quickly and economically especially after taking ACLS. Mikey check out a thread from earlier in the nurse transportation forum. https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84461

I come more from the medic side of this equation, I know in my state (CT) there is a program that you can get an accelerated EMT-P. The question is, should you. I work in a hospital based system were we assist in the ED as well as work in the field. I work side by side with many nurses and have the greatest respect for many of them. Unfortunately, just as a paramedic shouldnt be allowed to become an RN without further training, I really feel that RN's, even if allowed to just take the test, should receive further training before becoming a paramedic. Although the two jobs have similarities, they are definetly not the same. Take the time to make sure your prepared for the different enviroment. the different considerations, and the different autonomy. (I do agree though that you should in no way be required to take the entire program as some states will make you do.)

I agree with Biffs25, there is no reason that an RN shouldn't be allowed to gain prehospital certification quickly and economically especially after taking ACLS. Mikey check out a thread from earlier in the nurse transportation forum. https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84461

HAHAHAHAHA!!! You think taking an ACLS class or any of the other alphabet soup classes prepares you to effectively treat a patient experiencing a medical or trauma emergency? I can see nurses who have experience in critical care becoming paramedics with a little extra education, but when I talk about "education", I don't mean the four letter du joure seminars.