EMT school before LPN?

caliotter3 · Sep 2, 2014

I became an EMT prior to nursing school. Can not say that it was much of a help. EMT is a career path in its own right. If you have doubts about your academic preparation and want to work toward nursing school success, I highly encourage you to do some "before school" prep. Math, English; then basic science, chem, followed by some anatomy/physiology, if you have time. It will be well worth your effort to establish yourself with basic math and English skills, study skills, and finding sources of help before you are under the pressure of succeeding in nursing school itself. Be able to do well on English and math placement exams and you will have achieved a lot.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

The EMT training is a part of the medical model of care provision. The LPN training is part of the nursing model of care provision. So although a few procedural skills might overlap, the two occupational paths are like apples and oranges.

In my opinion it is not necessary to become an EMT prior to enrolling in a PN program.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 2, 2014

The EMT training is a part of the medical model of care provision. The LPN training is part of the nursing model of care provision. So although a few procedural skills might overlap, the two occupational paths are like apples and oranges.
In my opinion it is not necessary to become an EMT prior to enrolling in a PN program.

I'm a Paramedic and I was trained as an athletic trainer, so I'm very familiar with the medical model. I'm also (now) an RN so I'm more recently familiar with the nursing model. TheCommuter has it right... they're apples & oranges. Becoming an EMT will not help you much, if any, during training for LPN. Some basic assessment skills may carry over, but that's about it. If you have a career in mind that requires both skill sets, then it's not a bad idea. Just know that as an EMT, you'll have to do CE specifically for EMT because nursing CE normally isn't approved for EMT CE and the reverse is usually also true.

For my own future, I'm going to have to look very closely at both types of CE and be sure that the courses I take will apply for both purposes.

CNA is much more applicable to your future plans as an LPN...

Tim92 · Sep 2, 2014

Thank you all for your replies. After reading these replies I think since I feel LPN is more suited for me, I'm going to continue working as a CNA until I begin school for LPN and forget the EMT training. Also, I'm going to take math classes since math is very difficult for me. What math is best to take now to help in LPN school? Algebra? Is it hard?

Nibbles1 · Sep 2, 2014

I didn't need algebra for LPN school. I took drug calculations class. If I were you, I'd see what preques you need. Usually basic AP, medical terms, etc etc

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

What math is best to take now to help in LPN school? Algebra? Is it hard?

You will need to learn dosage calculations and medication math to succeed in a practical nursing program. I'd estimate the vast majority of the math to be at a middle school (6th to 7th grade) level.

However, since there's so many innumerate people in society who have a poor foundation in basic skills, many people just cannot figure out how to complete dosage calculations. My program required a 100% score on the dosage calculations test, with three attempts to achieve the 100% score. Students who could not attain a 100% score were forced to withdraw from the program.

If you wish to get a head start on the medication math, do Google searches for terms such as "medication math," "dosage calculations" and "dimensional analysis." Utilize the search results and start learning it before you need it.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2014

I was a CNA, then EMT, then LPN and finally RN.

I can say each helped me a bit with the next. EMT helped with LPN in the sense that I had a grasp on quick/rapid assessments, communiating with the patient and treating patients, etc. However, I wouldn't say it made LPN school easier. As the others have said, its like comparing apples to oranges.

What really helped making certain aspects of LPN schooling easier was being a CNA. I learned the basics in my CNA schooling and during my CNA career. Being a CNA made talking with patients and families easier, actually taking care of patients, areas of patient care that the nursing end of healthcare takes care of and things of that nature.

I didn't have to take any math courses in LPN school but we did have to pass a math competence test for admission to the school. The math involved in nursing really requires a good grasp of basic math. An algebra class won't help much if you don't have a good foundation in basic math. There are a lot of websites that help teach the areas you'll need to know (converting fractions into percents and vice versa, conversions of say mg to g and ounces to milliliters).

MsvolsRN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, EMT-I, EMT-P, APRN, NP · Sep 6, 2014

I was a LPN prior to getting my EMT. I am now a Paramedic (15yrs), RN for 8yrs and I was a LPN 13 yrs. I don't see EMT school helping much at all with LPN school. To me, nursing is a totally different ballgame than EMS. The thought processes are different. In four months, you are just starting to get a grasp of what is needed to truly treat a patient. LPN school offered me excellent clinical skills, which was beneficial toward my EMS career.

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