LPN to Paramedic

Nurses General Nursing

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I am an LPN looking to also do Paramedic work. Do I still have to go through paramedic school to do this?

Once upon a time, I thought EMT and paramedic were the same thing. Maybe the OP thinks that now?

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That is great you allowed to do that, especially in the ER! I am not sure if it is the state or the hospitals are just being scared for wheat ever reason... It's just silly.

Annie

Yeah could be a facility policy. Those needles are expensive.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am an RN. We used to be able to intubate and place I&O caths, but my facility no longer allows nurses to do this. Once upon a time, it was included in ACLS, but most of the respiratory stuff (intubation) has been removed from ACLS and it is SO much simpler now. I hate to say it, but nursing has been dumbed down a lot in the last decade. When I first started nursing, yes, I would say a nurse could indeed do paramedic stuff, as we intubated frequently in ICU and ER. We also had to be able to demonstrate how we would do water rescue, back then, such as doing CPR on a patient in the water. A lot of that type of thing has been removed from the nurses's education. So, yes, indeed, you would need to go to school to be a paramedic. And paramedics should be paid more.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
And paramedics should be paid more.

And if they were I wouldn't be a nurse. One of the main reasons why I got out of EMS.

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.
Did I mention the drill? Yes, the drill... we can now drill into bone (IO) if we cannot get an IV in place, thus saving a lot of time on a sick patient! I am an IV nurse also though and believe RN should be able to use the IO!! It truly is easy!

I am an IV nurse as well. Some days I really wish I could just drill a hole in someone's arm and do an IO.

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As both an Paramedic/RN...yes, yes you will have to go through Paramedic school.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
As both an Paramedic/RN...yes, yes you will have to go through Paramedic school.

I love your screen name and avatar, it's cute!!

Annie

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And if they were I wouldn't be a nurse. One of the main reasons why I got out of EMS.

Ayup, me too. That and I'd had enough of carrying my fair share of 300lbs of humanity+stryker backwards down a narrow staircase at 0-effin-dark-30 because they had a hangnail for 3 weeks.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Even for an EMT Basic you would need to return to class (about "full time" 6 weeks) as there is no skill or knowledge base equivalency for an LPN and EMT in the field.

Many areas still have volunteer EMS but training is paid for (the school not the student) by a grant/state fund.

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Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.
Ayup, me too. That and I'd had enough of carrying my fair share of 300lbs of humanity+stryker backwards down a narrow staircase at 0-effin-dark-30 because they had a hangnail for 3 weeks.

LOL, yes this!! I actually make 90K with my medic overtime- 48 hours a week plus one 12 hour shift extra, not to bad considering I do 911 only and cover 6 towns (and not a single nursing home!!). The problem is what you said, I am 20 years in and my back and hip has started telling me it's time... I am kind of bummed because I do love working on the ambulance !

Unfortunately our population is only getting bigger and now it isn't unheard of for just about every adult patient we pick up to be obese. It wears on you... I do try and follow ABCs and Ambulate before carry if they really do not need to be carried out!

Annie

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...Unfortunately our population is only getting bigger and now it isn't unheard of for just about every adult patient we pick up to be obese. It wears on you... I do try and follow ABCs and Ambulate before carry if they really do not need to be carried out!

Annie

I hear that. My service was the only one within a 200 mile radius that have 2 specially outfitted bariatric ambulances complete with oversized stretcher (complete with lift points for 3 people per side) and electric winch and ramps to get it into the back-guess what type of transports we had a lot of? Yeah don't miss that so much.

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Specializes in Wound Care Certification, IV Certification.
On 8/19/2018 at 7:44 AM, AnnieOaklyRN said:

Yes, the responsibility of a paramedic is far greater then that of an LPN. You would also have to get your EMT basic first in most states, if not all. I suggest you get some EMT experience first before going for your medic. Remember you are responsible for acutely ill patients, and there is no doctor there to tell you what to do! Yes, you may use med control, but all they are doing is listening to YOUR assessment and what YOU think needs to be done, they aren't there so they cannot verify what you are telling them. For this reason you need to get really good at assessing patient's, is it asthma or COPD or is it CHF, is it a STEMI on the 12 lead (if so you need to decide if you need to activate a cath lab), are they in an SVT or afib with a rapid ventricular response, do they have a pneumothorax or a tension pneumothorax because one of those requires a need placed in the chest which you have to be willing to do, are they in respiratory failure and need intubation (RSI in some states), what is that rhythm ( you need to be really good and knowledgeable about everything, but cardiac stuff is where we make the biggest difference), is the Vtac , if so are they stable or unstable should we cardiovert or give meds, is that a first, second, or third degree block, if it's a third should we pace and sedate them, or should we try Atropine.... This is just a small example.

No offense to you, but I think you are grossly under estimating the responsibility of a paramedic when you ask if you can skip paramedic school and just get a license. Even RNs have to do the class or some sort of training! Have you ever intubated a patent?

In my opinion, having done both and having gone through the full educational programs for both I would NEVER recommend bridging or taking shortcuts. Paramedic and nursing are two different entities.

Annie

While I am a "lowly LPN" and not a paramedic I am IV certified and Wound Care certified. Patient assessment is critical in my job. If you don't know the difference between a pleural effusion ronchi and absent breath sounds RT pneumothorax, there is a bigger issue. We learn that in nursing school, even we LPNs attend nursing school and must learn these basics.

I tutor students from the school I graduated on cardiac. Both LPNs and RNs. That beautiful electrical signal moves from the SA node (the pacemaker/ right atrium ) to the AV node. The AV node (atrioventricular, at the center of the heart between atria & ventricles) sends the signal to the Bundle to the Purk. Fibers.

1st degree heart block is usually free of symptoms. Its usually detected during ECG/ EKG)

2nd degree heart block presents similarly to 3rd degree symptom wise with pt experiencing SOB, chest pain, syncope ect but 3rd degree (CHB) on ECG/EKG will reflect the severity of the slow heart rate.

Atropine, an anticholinergic drug can be given to treat heart block. We usually give this in hospice to dry secretions.

If the pt is experiencing unstable presentation a transcutaneous pacemaker can be utilized, they are similar to defib pads in placement. Pacing frequency between 70-80 bpm.

The most important thing to remember is, you're a nurse! Always be learning. As an LPN especially because others like to say you are under qualified for everything. Which is honestly shameful and should be ignored. Most people don't realize the only differences between RN and LPN are that we can't do IV push and we can't give blood products.

We are ALL very skilled, very badass medical care providers no matter if you are EMT Paramedic, Nurse or Doctor.

I don't feel for a second that you were grossly under estimating paramedics. I've also had a lot of trouble finding these answers and basically arrived at this after talking to friends who are paramedics, nursing is usually the preferred avenue. I personally don't think I could survive in the rig without crying for long periods which no one wants to see ?.

Either way, its always important to continue learning. Knowledge is power! And emergency services are worth being trained in. Always.

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