EMT or RN

TazziRN, RN · Jun 6, 2006

many people have gotten their rn in stages, nothing wrong with that!

natron20 · Jun 6, 2006

I actually am in EMT training right now but decided 1/2 way through nursing is what I would rather do. I too love kids and think pediatric nursing is my way to go. I've realized over the last several months that I'm not a big fan of trauma. My first "run" during EMT clinicals was lady who had been run over by four horses. NOT a good time.

I know what you're going through though. I would suggest doing with an EMT service what you are doing at the hospital, volunteer. If you contact your local EMT service I'm sure they would let you "ride along" with them for a little. I think actually doing the hands on thing would help clarify your choice even more. You may find that you LOVE riding 70 mph in the back of an ambulance with sirens blaring, trying to stand up and not being able to, trying to maintain an airway, the list goes on and on. I'm thinking it's not my cup of tea but if may be right up your alley.

I take my national certification exam on June 19th. I'm soooo ready to get this over with.....

Whatever you choose I wish you nothing but the best. If you have any questions about EMT training please feel free to let me know. I'd be happy to help out as best I can.

wackyj2000 · Jun 6, 2006

Hello, i was actually reading this post and it appealed to me. I've always been wanting to help people.. I'm pre-nursing right now but becoming an EMT really interested me. How long is the course, are there any requirements besides cpr certification? I was wondering if i could find out more information! Thanks!

bruinlaura · Jun 6, 2006

You can actually kind of do both. After a few years experience as an RN in a critical care setting (ICU/ER) you can do critical care RN transports for an ambulance company.

I worked as an EMT basic before nursing school with a private transport company (we didn't do 911, just interfacility and ER for non-emergencies). My experience is you get paid poorly (like barely above minimum wage), it is physically demanding lifting (usually heavy) people all day long, you get treated like dirt by almost everyone:

-the company you work for,

-dispatchers who will give you 12 calls in a 12 hour shift with no breaks and hold you over because the money they make off of one call is more than the overtime they have to pay you,

-about 75% of the nurses you give/receive report to/from (I've actually been called a "stupid EMT" by a nurse who didn't realize I wasn't out of earshot),

-paramedics who are pissed you didn't just scoop and go when the pt is out of your league,

-RNs who are pissed you did scoop and go because you were only 3 mins from the hospital and it would have taken longer than 3 mins for the fire dept to get there (in CA policy is closest ACLS intervention so if you were closer to the hospital than fire was to you that was what you were supposed to do),

-partners who are terrible drivers (the patient is safely strapped in, you are not. I have been thrown and fortunately only badly bruised)

I do have to say that helping the patients is fun and rewarding and it is quite an adrenaline rush when things get sticky and you have to think and move fast. I loved the challenges and I (for the most part loved) the patients. It is good healthcare experience to put on nsg school applications (and all my clinical instructors have complimented me on my assessment skills), but I would say don't give up on nsg school.

traumahawk99 · Jun 6, 2006

i'm a medic and an rn. too bad you live in california, else i'd recommend medic school and then excelsior college, which is the way i went.

you'll make a lot more as a nurse and you'll have a lot more flexibility. medic is a stepping stone to something better. becoming a paramedic got me into excelsior..

to make a living as a medic, you've got to work some long hourse. you can burn out on having to sit in a truck at a post waiting for calls. it sucks! : :eek:

ostomyrn2b09 · Jun 6, 2006

Thank you everyone for your influential comments and suggestions...I am going to stick to nursing...I want to be able to raise a family and be there for my future kids as much as possible...No other job I think is as rewarding (physically, emotionally, financially) as nursing. Hopefully I will get into the nursing program the first time I apply...Thanks again everyone!!

Jackie