EMT Training

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm looking at expanding my horizons into doing some transport nursing. I am currently on-call as a fixed-wing flight nurse, but am looking at some other options. My current job as a flight nurse does not require that I have EMT certification, however, many jobs I've been looking at in the transport field do require certification (not as a paramedic, just EMT-Basic).

Does anyone know of a quick course for RNs to gain EMT certification? I can't believe that there wouldn't be one.

There are courses on line, look in Altavista.com seach engine, also go to your nearby nursing school and ask, or the emergency room at the county hospital in your area and ask.

I do ambulance transport and am currently on a volunteer ems. In my state an RN does not have to be an EMT. Our protocols are written for both paramedic and rn. Have you contacted your state BEMS? They will know of programs that are accredited in your state. I am also considering flight transport--how does it differ from ground transport (other than a helicopter or airplane duh--haha) Good luck.

It also just occurred to me. Maybe you can test out of alot of it and just get the training on the emergency equipment and protocols---I love to do critical transports. I wish that I lived in a community big enough that I could do it full time.

All of the resources I've been pointed toward are full EMT courses. I would think that there would be a shorter version for nurses (two weeks, maybe). Unfortunately, I've been told that I can't simply take the certification test.

As for flight nursing ... I do fixed-wing. On a flight I lead a nurse-paramedic team doing ALS and critical care interstate flights. Usually they're VA patients being transfered around the country for evaluations or procedures. Other times we transport patients that have been visiting and have been in accidents, or had MIs, that sort of thing.

Helicoptor nursing is much more acute -- either responding to trauma scenes or emergency intrafacility transports.

I'm looking at doing some ground transport for my hospital's ambulance service. As an RN I'd be placed on the critical care ambulances for local intrafacility runs. Those would actually be only about 10% of the time, the rest of the time would be running 9-1-1 call with the rest of the fleet.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I live in Illinois and am a pre-hospital RN or "field RN". My experience is six years of level I trauma nursing, and two years of ICU nursing. All I had to do was take a test and do 12 hours ride time - really very easy. Perhaps talking with the medical director in the region where you want to practice would give you some insight into what may be required.

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