Firefighter/Paramedic switching to nursing..

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Hey everyone im new to this forum. Im a 24y/o male and ive been a Firefighter/Paramedic for 6 years (3 as EMT, 3 as a Paramedic). Ive been working 24/48s still being considered "part-time". I havent been able to land a fulltime fire job and I have been looking into nursing for financial security and start saving for retirement at a younger age. Anyone in here know of anyone who made the switch, or have made the switch themselves? Im kinda nervous about it, but I feel have a good start in that direction (working with patients, ACLS, PALS, etc) and im currently starting on my gen-eds and hopefully starting a Paramedic to RN bridge in Springfield, OH next fall.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

Welcome, welcome

I know several that are fireman/rn and all think that it is a fabulous combination. The world will be your oyster. You can be transport nurse, prehospital nurse, flight nurse.

Everything from the 2 jobs will blend nicely together.

ONe thing that will be hard is switching hats if you continue to do both, and a lot do.

For example you won't be able to intubate a pt in the ER if you are working there as a nurse at the time.

Good luck with everything and welcome home to allnurses.

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Wow, thanks for the quick response! I never really thought about nursing until I saw one of my buddies over the summer I havent seen in a while. He told me that becoming an RN was the best thing he has ever done for himself. He is a traveling nurse and is having a blast doing so. So I did some research and decided to move towards nursing, I already enjoy helping people and im sure I will enjoy it.

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Hey everyone im new to this forum. Im a 24y/o male and ive been a Firefighter/Paramedic for 6 years (3 as EMT, 3 as a Paramedic). Ive been working 24/48s still being considered "part-time". I havent been able to land a fulltime fire job and I have been looking into nursing for financial security and start saving for retirement at a younger age. Anyone in here know of anyone who made the switch, or have made the switch themselves? Im kinda nervous about it, but I feel have a good start in that direction (working with patients, ACLS, PALS, etc) and im currently starting on my gen-eds and hopefully starting a Paramedic to RN bridge in Springfield, OH next fall.

I have been an EMT for ten years... in various positions, doing both fire/ems and general transport. The job stability you have as a nurse is greater than that of a paramedic. After 8 months on a regular med/surg floor, I am missing being on the ambulance. I would advise you to definitely explore your options as a transport nurse/flight nurse etc. Good luck in your new career, may you find what you're searching for!

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Hey everyone im new to this forum. Im a 24y/o male and ive been a Firefighter/Paramedic for 6 years (3 as EMT, 3 as a Paramedic). Ive been working 24/48s still being considered "part-time". I havent been able to land a fulltime fire job and I have been looking into nursing for financial security and start saving for retirement at a younger age. Anyone in here know of anyone who made the switch, or have made the switch themselves? Im kinda nervous about it, but I feel have a good start in that direction (working with patients, ACLS, PALS, etc) and im currently starting on my gen-eds and hopefully starting a Paramedic to RN bridge in Springfield, OH next fall.

Oh please do so, we need people like you. In ER room and bedside nursing. My hat's off too you. Make sure you get all your credits from previous schools. I have no idea how it is in OH for waiting period for RN program, where I live there's a 5yr wait just to get in RN program city college. So I am enrolled in private University, i had no choice. I a current LPN working very hard for my RN, I will be done next year Aug 2009. Can't wait. Good Luck, trust your heart. We all need a stable job, be happy. :nurse:

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The waitlist at a CC in Dayton is 2years. Im starting from the bottom with gen eds since they were not required for any of my fire/ems courses. The good news is that the program in Springfield is 18mos long, and thats including the gen eds. which im working on now. So hopefully I wont have to wait too long to get started towards my new career, and have to go fulltime.. good thing I got that P-card early i guess.

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Specializes in ER.

I've been a paramedic for 17 years, and got my RN this year. It's been fun switching over to my new role in the ER, and I know that my experience has pulled my (and my patient's) butt out of a bind more than once. The two jobs are different, but there are many similarities too. For me, the two biggest challenges were 1) organizing care for 5-6 patients (or more!) rather than focusing on one...and 2) ER holds for extended periods of time (but that's the same for most of our ER nurses). But I still have the gut that can tell me that a patient is going to go down the tubes before an clinical signs appear.

I miss being on the bus sometimes, so I think I'm gonna get a part time gig in a small town near here. But I DON'T miss working in the rain! LOL! :D

I think you'll enjoy it...you bring something to the table that not everyone has. The stability is awesome, as is your own marketability. Jump on in...the water's fine!

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Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

Welcome,you'll do great!:D

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