Fire fighter to ER nurse?

AZQuik · Jun 30, 2017

Pay depends on where in the country you are, but it's not great. I mean you can be ok, but you aren't getting rich. You won't starve though. It's a lot of drama and work. More than you would think. A starting new grad probably makes a few buck more than the average high paid construction worker. More if you work differentials.

It's not bad, but like I said you aren't getting rich. Should be pretty easy to find nurses pay in your area

LiLev · Jun 30, 2017

I'm not sure if you would get your 'thrill' fix in the ER, but in my opinion its definitely less tedious than floor nursing. Sure, you get your occasional exciting cases or codes but percentage-wise your dealing with mostly primary care issues, drunks, drug-seekers, and psych issues.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jul 1, 2017

Pay depends a lot on where you work. ED work is a lot safer than EMS, so not quite as interesting. Although, you probably have a higher chance of being physically assaulted. I am a paramedic to nurse. I miss the uncertainty of 911, but it is more intellectually and interpersonally challenging at the same time. And, nursing is a tremendous career with a myriad of possibilities in saving lives like the ED or cath lab, to some real power as a manager, director, or CNO. If you geek out on new opportunities it might be a good fit. ED nursing is a team endeavor and you will never need the same reliance on your individual skill and knowledge as in the field, but it has rewards that go beyond that. Good luck.

Anthony11 · Jul 1, 2017

Pay depends a lot on where you work. ED work is a lot safer than EMS, so not quite as interesting. Although, you probably have a higher chance of being physically assaulted. I am a paramedic to nurse. I miss the uncertainty of 911, but it is more intellectually and interpersonally challenging at the same time. And, nursing is a tremendous career with a myriad of possibilities in saving lives like the ED or cath lab, to some real power as a manager, director, or CNO. If you geek out on new opportunities it might be a good fit. ED nursing is a team endeavor and you will never need the same reliance on your individual skill and knowledge as in the field, but it has rewards that go beyond that. Good luck.

Hey that is interesting to hear your perspective. Do you have more decision as a nurse compared to a paramedic? I always kind of thought nurses just act out the whims of the doctors which made me wary. I like intellectual challenge.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2017

You have a lot less autonomy as a nurse compared to a paramedic. It is a hard transition for some.

Going from being able to give any med on the unit when you feel it is needed, intubating when you feel it is needed, sedation when you feel it is needed to as a nurse having to have to wait for the doctor to order these things (many times after telling them several times it is needed). Seeing a bad outcome when it could have been avoided if it was done when you thought it should have been done is very frustration. Wanting to intubate a pt when the MD is having a problem doing it is especially frustrating.

If working in the ER, it is not as bad since the physician is there, but you still need the order to do them. If on the floor, forget about it. Need it right now means a 30 minute wait most of the time. ICU can be a little better if their is an intensivist there.

If your in a teaching facility, having residents around makes it better also, just tell them I need x, y, and z and many will just say OK.

As a nurse there is a different level of intellect. You are thinking more long term in your decisions, not just the fix it till I get to the hospital. In the ER it is still more of a "fix it good enough to get to the floor", but some patients take a lot to even get to that point. It is a lot faster paced than on the ambulance. I was busy if I ran 15 calls in a 24 hour shift (I think the most I ran was 20 calls in 24 hours). I easily see 20 patients most 12 hours shifts in the non acute areas, sometimes 30. In the more acute areas, 10-15 patients is the norm, including codes, bi-pap pts, reductions, trauma, etc. And this is in a community Level 4 trauma center.

Facilities will differ, but you are usually on your feet for the whole shift, no downtime like in Fire/EMS.

I do not miss EMS at all. I was worried I would, but working 3 12 hour shifts in the A/C in a controlled environment making more than I did as a medic working 24/48 shifts (+ usually 1 OT shift a week) is nice. No more worried about if it is raining, 100Â°F+, or freezing rain. No more kneeling on asphalt that sticks to your pants since it is so hot, or laying in the mud under a car extracting a patient, pulling the 400lb person from between the toilet and wall that OD (again), or picking up a patient because they don't have a ride to their Dr appointment is well worth it.

Anthony11 · Jul 1, 2017

Thanks that was a great write up. I am a little confused though that in general your first couple paragraphs make nursing sound like its worse than EMS but then you conclude its better. (Yes I want to get out of the heat as well )

My dream would be to eventually become a flight nurse, then its 'back' to EMS in a big way - until then mainly trying to decide if ER would be legit. Also is it easy to get into ER, esp with EMS experience?

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 1, 2017

No it does not scratch that itch at all. Im trying to get back onto a rig because the ER is nothing compared to being on the bus. That being said, it is fun in its own right. If only being a medic paid more, I would totally do that over this any day of the week

Dodongo, APRN, NP · Jul 1, 2017

If you're willing to put in more time, money and effort (beyond getting your BSN) there are some programs that train you specifically for emergency NP and flight ACNP. That way you're above the scope of practice of both a paramedic or RN.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

Thanks that was a great write up. I am a little confused though that in general your first couple paragraphs make nursing sound like its worse than EMS but then you conclude its better. (Yes I want to get out of the heat as well )
My dream would be to eventually become a flight nurse, then its 'back' to EMS in a big way - until then mainly trying to decide if ER would be legit. Also is it easy to get into ER, esp with EMS experience?

It is not that it is worse, just different. Some medics have a hard time with that.

Some of them are frustrating at times, but overall, nothing that is a big deal to me.

Working in the ER makes it better since if you get on good terms with the physicians, they may give you a little leeway with some things.

When I worked IMU/ICU, it was very frustrating not being able to get a hold of docs for the urgent things that could become emergent quickly if not addressed.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

I'm not sure if you would get your 'thrill' fix in the ER, but in my opinion its definitely less tedious than floor nursing. Sure, you get your occasional exciting cases or codes but percentage-wise your dealing with mostly primary care issues, drunks, drug-seekers, and psych issues.

OP:

This will primarily be where you work. Some ER's you will see a lot of stuff daily, multiple x a day. Other ER's you're "lucky" if you get a code a week. Lots of variables to all this.

That said ER nursing doesn't pay any less then any other area in the hospital that is a staff nursing position typically. ER Travel nursing once you have experience would be good for the many variables and pay and experiences. Always pro's and cons.

My taste have changed constantly. I am actually about to start a new position in a new area that normally I wouldn't do, however the schedule is perfect for me right now as a single mom and the pay is amazing compared to hospital pay while I further my education. Then I plan on doing mission trips with my nursing.

Flight nursing is not good pay either and can sometimes be more Critical Care transport type nursing. Just depends on circumstances. For me when I started had it paid more I would have been a paramedic because I like riding the trucks and being in the field.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2017

No it does not scratch that itch at all. Im trying to get back onto a rig because the ER is nothing compared to being on the bus. That being said, it is fun in its own right. If only being a medic paid more, I would totally do that over this any day of the week

That's because your itch more so requires a cream and Rx but you won't listen.:|