Are registered nurses considered First Responders?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a Registered Nurse in MA, I am also a part-time Sheriff. I was informed that I must take a first responder course in order to continue working as a Sheriff. Would a registered Nurse be considered trained to the level of a first responder or above?

Thanks in advance for any help

Specializes in ER, Med/Surg.

i emailed our state training department:

tony,

this might be out of the realm of things you know, but maybe you could forward it on to someone

who does know.

if an rn is also on a volunteer department that is cert'd as bls non-transport, and they are also cert'd as a first respoinder. when they are on a scene, which are they using, their fr cert, or rn license? can they "switch hats" under direction of medical control of their department and start an iv for instance? or are they then (as i understand it) essentially taking things into their own hands at that point? some guidance is appreciated. i am in nursing school and was on xxxxxxx fd, and hope to get back on once i'm finished with school.

are you always held to the standard of the highest level of care you are (in this case rn) or does it depend on which "hat" you are wearing?

the root of this question comes from a nursing forum where a similar question was asked.

thanks a lot,

he replied:

you cannot function as an rn on an emergency scene when you are there with your fire department. you are held to the standard of care of that department.

tony pagano

section chief, certification

indiana department of homeland security

training division

(317)232-3985

[email protected]

www.in.gov/dhs

i think greg made some good points above also, it depends on *why* or *how* you are there.

pat

Specializes in Critical Care.
Yes, I am sure about that. If you are working in A HEALTHCARE CAPACITY (does that work better for you), you are held to your highest standard of practice (in this case, your RN license).

An RN is not the same as a PA - the RN has a license of his/her own, the PA does not - hence, the same thing does NOT go for RNs.

Why do you think the PAs are asked by their supervising MDs not to identify themselves as PAs (even though they are not functioning in that role at the time)? Because the LICENSED PERSON (the MD in the case of a PA) could be held responsible - even if that person was not even there. Since RNs practice under their own license, they are held to that level of knowledge and accountability when working in a healthcare (first responder or otherwise) capacity.

I'm sorry but where I am the PA (if by PA you mean physician's assistant) DOES have to have a license and they are held to a greater standard than the RN. They are able to do things that we as RN's aren't. They can prescribe medications and order tests, etc. And here they aren't asked to conceal their level of ability for any reason, nor should they be.

When they are working as a first repsonder, they are held to the first responder level unless they decide to declare they are working as a PA. Now, the drawback here is, once they decide they are working as a PA on one scene, it's upheld aat all subsequent scenes they respond to.

tvccrn

I'm sorry but where I am the PA (if by PA you mean physician's assistant) DOES have to have a license and they are held to a greater standard than the RN. They are able to do things that we as RN's aren't. They can prescribe medications and order tests, etc. And here they aren't asked to conceal their level of ability for any reason, nor should they be.

When they are working as a first repsonder, they are held to the first responder level unless they decide to declare they are working as a PA. Now, the drawback here is, once they decide they are working as a PA on one scene, it's upheld aat all subsequent scenes they respond to.

tvccrn

No need to be sorry (unless you were saying that to be sarcastic - then maybe you should be). I KNOW what a PA is and what a PA can do - but where I am, things are different. Here, PAs do not have licenses of their own - they are certified as PAs and practice under the license of an MD. Clearly, I was responding to that situation (if you would read the post I responded to, it was posted that the MDs instructed the PAs NOT to identify themselves as PAs because the PAs worked under the license of the MD in that situation as well, so it must not be just where I am or there would be no reason for those MDs to be concerned, would there?)

Specializes in Critical Care.

No, ma'am I wasn't being sarcastic. I have a bad habit of apologizing whenever I say something I think someone will take offense too. Although I am working on it.

I did read the post you were referring to and I talk with one of our PA's. The docs here don't tell the PA's not to identify themselves, and yes, the PA's do work under the license of the physician. But, they also have a license of their own that would be in jeopardy as well.

I think this is a question that many have to deal with. I know of other nurses who are FR, but I have never thought to ask it. Good discussion!!

tvccrn

+ Add a Comment