Challenging the Paramedic exam as RN

U.S.A. Florida

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Anyone out there recently done this in Fla? I have been an EMT for many years and wanted to challenge the FLA paramedic exam since I am now an RN in FLA. I have registered to take the exam... Need to know...

1. What books to buy to study for the exam?

2. CE Brokers has a $165 program-is this a good idea or overkill?

Any help would be appreciated. :bugeyes:

I do not know your background; however, I would strongly caution against simply taking the exam without some kind of transitional or formal paramedic course. Even EMT training is not a substitute for a solid foundation of paramedics/ALS experience. One major area to consider is airway management. Unless you have substantial OR time and several tubes in the field, your education as a nurse will not prepare you for the realities of difficult pre-hospital airway management. Even as a flight nurse with EMS background, I would not fly without a paramedic. One of my the primary reasons for being this way, airway management. Even though I have additional training and education in addition to OR time, my ability to manage an airway simply cannot match a skilled paramedic. Food for thought IHMO.

Agree with you completely. Tried to take the respiratory course here at the junior college in Tallahasse for intubation but couldn't get in on time.

It is singularly the item that concerns me the most. I have seen it done in the ER but Nurses don't get to do them here unless Dr. approves and in their presence. Then again they use RSI and paramedics do not as I understand it.

Anything on the recommended reading material? I am studying the Brady review manual for the test and some protocols published by Broward county EMS.

Heard anything about that CE broker course?

Thanks for getting back with me...

Specializes in ER, ICU, Prehospital.

I would also discourage this. There is a lot of things that medics are much more educated in when compared to what nursing school prepares you for. I don't know what your level of experience is right now but I don't know many nurses that have a level of training in airway management unless that can compare to paramedic training unless they are already involved in pre-hospital care. Most paramedic schools have a required number of clinical hours that are comparable if not exceed what those in nursing school go through. I would find it scary to skip all of that training and be the sole person responsible for another's life in the field.

"Then again they use RSI and paramedics do not as I understand it."

Paramedics can and do use RSI. This and other skills in their scope of practice are regulated by where they work and what their medical director will allow them to do.

Agree with you completely. Tried to take the respiratory course here at the junior college in Tallahasse for intubation but couldn't get in on time.

It is singularly the item that concerns me the most. I have seen it done in the ER but Nurses don't get to do them here unless Dr. approves and in their presence. Then again they use RSI and paramedics do not as I understand it.

Anything on the recommended reading material? I am studying the Brady review manual for the test and some protocols published by Broward county EMS.

Heard anything about that CE broker course?

Thanks for getting back with me...

I would bet in most cases the nurse is pushing the RSI meds while a doc is performing the actual intubation. As a paramedic, you may or may not push RSI medications based on your protocols; however, you will be expected to provide advanced airway management. Big difference when you have to deal with a difficult/failed airway that you created without a physician present. I still recommend that you take some type of bridge course.

Specializes in EMS, ortho/post-op.
I have seen it done in the ER but Nurses don't get to do them here unless Dr. approves and in their presence. Then again they use RSI and paramedics do not as I understand it.

What a paramedic can and cannot do depends largely on their service's protocols. If that service utilizes RSI, then the paramedics can do it.

You may not like my answer, but the bottom line is if you want to be licensed as a paramedic, you need to go to paramedic school just like someone who wants to be an RN needs to go to RN school. It's as simple as that. How angry would an RN be if paramedics could suddenly challenge the RN boards and become RNs without all the stress and hard work of nursing school? It's the same concept. Paramedic school is not easy.

That is it exactly what I am asking. Is there a bridge course in Florida!!!????

Specializes in EMS, ortho/post-op.
That is it exactly what I am asking. Is there a bridge course in Florida!!!????

Do a search and see what you find. I'm in Georgia and I don't know of any RN-to-Paramedic programs, although there are a couple of Paramedic-to-RN programs. Most paramedic programs culminate in a 2 year degree, so you would likely have some, if not most, of the core classes completed already. You may be able to finish in a year and I can't imagine a bridge program being much shorter than that. The clinical hours alone take a while to complete and the skills aren't learned overnight. I would highly recommend taking the time to do the full program or at least search out a good, reputable bridge program that doesn't grant your diploma/certificate/whatever in two weeks. You may be able to pass the test on knowledge alone, but once you're in the field, you will be in charge of the patient and your skills are going to be what you have to rely on. That you challenged the exam and passed isn't going to matter. You're already an EMT, so you must understand what I'm talking about if you've worked in the field at all. Don't put your license at stake and don't put yourself in that situation. I hope you find the right program for your needs.

Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Threads merged.

That is it exactly what I am asking. Is there a bridge course in Florida!!!????

Ok, I understand. I am sorry about misunderstanding your question.

i am, or rather was, a florida paramedic. the exam is extremely easy, in my honest opinion. now i'm an rn and i let my paramedic license lapse. i can't figure out what i'd want to do with it. you can get to the point where you've simply got too much to keep up :).

EMS agencies will never ever just let a new medic (or they shouldn't) off on their own to run the truck and calls. The EMS agency that I work for in FL "credentials" the medic before they can be allowed to run the ALS truck alone or w/o another paramedic, specifically an FTO (field training officer). New paramedics must go through the FTO program, working w/ a FTO-paramedic and another EMT (for a 3 person crew). This ensures that the new medic is signed off on skills, is competent to handle ALS calls, and has the opportunity to be subjected to those intubation calls and such. THEN, after paramedic is ready; they have to sit for a verbal test in front of the medical director regarding both ALS and BLS protocols. So, w/ all of that being said; if you are an EMT w/ a few years of experience w/ an ALS agency, understand the protocols and can assist a medic during ALL calls w/o being told or asked for equipment or specific help, have your ACLS cert, AND can be hired w/ an agency that rigorously trains new medics..there is no reason not to go for it.

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