paramedic nursing

AFnurse3 · Jun 27, 2005

I totally agree with you that pre-hosital treatment is totally different than regular hospital nursing, and everyone going into it needs field experience before being the paramedic in charge of the scene. But, with all due respect, even in a hospital at 0200, you can't yell "start over" and expect results!!!

Just my 2 cents, but I must comment, RN to paramedic. There is a vast difference between and RN and an paramedic, or if you are in such a state, a phrn/hp (prehospital rn-who has challenged the nat reg testing and has the approp skills, or paramedic. If you are thinking of challenging any prehospital course, you better get some field experience. The world of an RN, and the world of a PHRN/HP are completely different. When you get that patient in the ED, they are packaged for you, meaning they are immobilized, splinted, bleeding is controlled, intubated, defib, etc. In the field you are the one who is doing the packaging. you are the one making the decisions. There is a vast difference intubating in a lab vs the back seat of vehicle which is crushed under an tractor trailer, let alone the IV start. You have you to rely on. Make sure that you have the experience to work in the prehospital world. I do both, and I have the greatest respect for fiedl medics and the few PHRN/HP;s that are out there. Most of us, atleast in PA, actually started as EMT's. Good luck to those who join us, but make sure you are ready. cause you cannot yell, start over. at 2am on the interstate. Just my 2 cents
Peg

mrdevo · Jan 27, 2006

As a critical care paramedic with over 12 years of experience and a nursing student I would recommend that you receive training as a paramedic before you work as one, even if you can legally challange the exam. The jobs are not the same. Nursing education isn't more advanced than a good paramedic education. There are many skills that are shared by both occupations, but the job is different. The training I received in nursing school doesn't match my paramedic training in running codes, 12 lead EKG interpretation, emergency pharmacology, airway management, surgical airways, central access, ventilator management, trauma assessment or any prehospital skills (spinal immobilization, traction splint, vehicle extrication). The paramedic training didn't cover the holistic care approach, long term care of patients with chronic conditions, nutrition, hygeine, or providing emotional support to patients or their families. Both are very important but different jobs with some different priorities and required knowledge. Most nurses would scoff at a paramedic challanging a nursing program. How can some feel as if their nursing training makes them competent as a medic? All the nurses I know that have challenged the exam and not taken a paramedic program do not make very good medics.

One good thing is that going back to school will be easier if you already have the fundamentals of medicine mastered.

rn29306 · Jan 28, 2006

As a critical care paramedic with over 12 years of experience and a nursing student I would recommend that you receive training as a paramedic before you work as one, even if you can legally challange the exam. .......The training I received in nursing school doesn't match my paramedic training in running codes, 12 lead EKG interpretation, emergency pharmacology, airway management, surgical airways, central access, ventilator management, trauma assessment or any prehospital skills (spinal immobilization, traction splint, vehicle extrication).

How many times in the past 12 years have you performed a surgical airway or central access in EMS?

Rio, ASN, RN · Jan 28, 2006

Not to answer for mrdevo but, in the past year I have done three femoral lines. two in the field and one in the cath lab.

I've never had to do a surgical airway or a needle cric for that matter ,but I have done two of each in animal lab the past year and a half as part of maintaining competency. I also attended ATLS last year and we did all procedures on 'trauma man'.

I'm an RN, not a paramedic. We fly with a RN/Medic TEAM. We work together as equal partners whether it is a scene call or interfacility transfer. We have learned from each other because we both bring one commonality to work with us: respect.

rn29306 · Jan 28, 2006

Not to answer for mrdevo but, in the past year I have done three femoral lines. two in the field and one in the cath lab.
I've never had to do a surgical airway or a needle cric for that matter ,but I have done two of each in animal lab the past year and a half as part of maintaining competency. I also attended ATLS last year and we did all procedures on 'trauma man'.
I'm an RN, not a paramedic. We fly with a RN/Medic TEAM. We work together as equal partners whether it is a scene call or interfacility transfer. We have learned from each other because we both bring one commonality to work with us: respect.

I worked as a CCEMT-P Prehospital RN on a mobile ICU also for scene and interfacility transport calls. It was just a question. Having worked with a great number of EMS providers, I have great respect for most of them.

11:11 · Mar 20, 2006

Here we go again

I cant argue with the experience of the members above.

Im not an EMT-P, but having done some transport nursing and volunteering at an ALS service I can say that if you believe that as a nurse you can easily do EMT-P skills your are mistaken.

As nurses we are not taught advanced airway skills, central line placement, chest tube placement, controling scenes etc etc. There is a reason that course is at least one intense year.

That doesnt mean we cannot learn these skills with a service that will teach us on the job (and OR etc) like I started to do.

For some of us it is worth it to get this certification and apply the skills in the field. But for most of us it will be for personal reasons, not money.

Most of the flight nurses I know in my area of permenant residence end up going to CRNA school if anything-

11

Trauma Columnist · Mar 20, 2006

I think we are all in agreement that the two careers are different but with the same purpose of giving excellent patient care. I have been an ER RN for almost 10 years in a level one trauma center and I'm fortunate enough to be a pre-hospital RN also who volunteers on a rural Fire/EMS squad.

Love both but whew are they different. Much much respect for folks who go to patient's homes and have no clue as to what to expect. Starting IV's in the dark, upside down of an MVA, looking for "the guy who took all his pills" outside in a cornfield (again at night), etc....

Victoriakem · Apr 14, 2006

Could an RN sit in on a Paramedic course to observe the training/classwork for just a day? I am interested in the difference of views promoted by each area. I've worked in the ED for 4 years now & would like to take a bridge course.

RoxanRN · Apr 14, 2006

Just have to ask the Instructor. I, personally, think it's a wonderful idea!

bellydancer59 · Jun 24, 2006

Im a RN who has 10 yrs med-surg float pool experience which covers adults and kids over 3yrs. Im in a EMT class right now, because I want to do Paramedic and nursing. I feel that I need to learn the basics of pre-hospital care before I can become a paramedic. THe school told me I could challenge the EMT, and just start my internship for paramedic. I do not feel that my experience in the hospital for 10yrs, would be enough for emergency care.

Sure I know alot of what I am learning, but there is so much I dont know. I have never had to load a pt on a stretcher, when EMT's come to my flooors to pick up pts, they do all that. I have never had to arrive on the highway to find body parts all over at 2am. Sure I can challenge both tests, but what good would that do me for any experience?

This is the same for some nursing programs who do not require the applicant to become a nursing assistant first. I believe in learning the basic fundamentals before doing any higher level of learning.

We just did our 1st test in EMT for chapters 1-6, I got 91%, so It always helps to keep learning!!!! We have a anatomy/phis teacher, who is also a chiropractor. He said he needs his EMT for some certification to teach.

Soooooooooooo, its always good to learn more!!!

Angela6833 · Jun 26, 2006

Not sure where you are from but here in Ohio there are a few nurse to paramedic classes around. They are ususally through a local community college. I know Tri-C has some. Hope this helps. My other suggestion would be to go online to your local paramedic divsion and search there. In Ohio EMS falls under the division of public safety.

Good luck!:balloons:

magilassalvacion · Jun 30, 2007

here in florida an rn can challenge the state paramedic exam......i believe they have to have their emt basic. a paramedic (at my nursing school) can opt to clep one semester of the rn program.....of which i chose not to even try.
as far as skills go, paramedics are only limited to what medical control allows. where i work, the sky is the limit as to what you want to do, you just need the courage to try or ask. we have it much more liberal than rn's in the hospital or er's, at least in my area.
i have worked in 2 other states, and they each were different with some rules, but neither allowed any clep for the rn to paramedic..., but they both did vice versa.
after working as a paramedic 13 years i cannot imagine why a nurse would want to do my job.....maybe some can't figure out why i want to be a nurse either.

I am Police Inspector Magilas S. Salvacion, RN. currently employed here in the philippines as a Nurse in the Philippine National Police. I have red your EMail in the ALLNURSES web site. Good day sir. I would like to ask you, or any body who can read this email... is really possible for a nurse to be do the job of the EMT-P. Thank you.