Nursing is without a doubt one of the most important jobs a person can undertake. I have personally been blessed by many wonderful nurses. Unfortunately there is a problem....
As we all know, there is a major nursing shortage which is expected to get much worse over the next several years. I have come up with an idea that will help alleviate this problem, especially benefitting underserved areas, particularly in primary care. I would love to collect your support and send a petition to congress and various medical organizations - please "sign" via your positive reply to my post.
My idea is the creation of the EMT-Practitioner program. Many of you are already aware that many EMTs function as Techs at Emergency Departments around the country. EMTs are already allowed to do many "nursing functions" including but not limited to: wound care, EKGs, IVs and lab draws, foley catheter insertions and removals, splinting, BLS, providing patient care and comfort, and so on. Techs are not allowed to administer medications, give shots, or do nursing assessments. They also do not have ACLS/PALS etc. However, I think with a little additional training, EMTs could do most of these things in 99.9999% of cases within the primary care setting.
Following is my proposed 1 semester, 15 credit hour program allowing EMT-Basics to become EMT-Practitioners and work essentially as "nurses" - with all nursing privileges - in any primary care setting. (NOTE: PRIMARY CARE SETTING ONLY!!!!)
EMT-Prac 100: Basics of Chemistry (2 credits)
EMT-Prac 102: Administering Meds as Ordered (2 credits)
EMT-Prac 103: Knowing if a Med Order Looks Wrong (1 credit)
EMT-Prac 105: Fundamentals of Nursing Assessment for Primary Care
(3 credits)
EMT-Prac 110: ACLS/PALS Certification (2 credits)
EMT-Prac 200: EMT-Practitioner Clinical (5 credits - 225 hours of experience in a primary care clinical setting)
Please show your support! This may be the answer we're looking for in terms of solving the primary care nursing shortage. I've worked with many, many good EMTs and I know they could probably do just as well as primary care nurses in 99.999% of cases with just a little bit of additional training. Plus they'll probably cost a couple bucks an hour less than an RN, saving money for practices and for patients! Everyone wins!!!!
