Going from RN to Paramedic

Specialties Emergency

Published

Yes, you read the title right. I am currently in nursing school. I am also an EMT-B, and have been one for 2 years now. I am coming to the realization that I really really enjoy EMS work. What I would like to do is finish nursing school (in Aug) and then get my Paramedic. I am wondering if there is anyone on here that has done this, as it is rather backward compared to the "traditional" way of doing things. If so, what were your reasons for doing so, and do you feel you can still have a more than comfortable way of life (to me that means being able to take a decent vacation once a year). I appreciate any feedback as this is a difficult thought process for me, because I feel I am going against the grain and I just need others non-biased (aka-you don't know me) opinions on the matter.

Specializes in OR, ER, Oncology, CPC.

You would make a great flight nurse. You may need a few yrs od CCU nursing but hey that's not bad. Do what you think is right. Good luck.

Specializes in Critical Care.
There are also several Paramedic programs that only take a little over 3 months. With the EMT-B included, you can be a Paramedic in 4 months.

I have to say, I've never seen this before. I've seen a full time M-F 8 hours a day paramedic program, which was still 9 or 10 months. Plus the EMT-B which is 6 weeks on a similar full time schedule.

I'm not trying to say that a 4 month program can't exist, but I'd be interested in how much fast of a pace you could make the program and still meet the required classroom, clinic, and ride along hours. If they truely have a program that is that fast, I'd actually be scared by it. Leaves little time for students to actually absorb information.

Don't sell the nursing profession short for not saving lives.

By your posts, it sounds like your heart is not into nursing especially with wanting to be a FF or work in the wilderness.

I don't think you can fault the nursing profession for your selection of a poor program. I seriously doubt if you will be any credit to the nursing profession.

I guess you must not have read the comment policy about not making personal attacks. I feel that you have done so with the above statements. To say I would not be of any credit in the nursing profession burns me to no end. You don't know me, you don't know what makes me tick and what drives me in life. You don't know where my heart is. My heart is about the ability to care for someone in their time of need and to help them heal on all levels physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At it's very core THAT is nursing. I never said I wanted to be a FF, I said that fire departments use paramedics, that's it. And who said anything about faulting the nursing profession for my education. Maybe it's because I didn't study as well as I could have, and that would be my fault, not nursing nor selecting a poor program. How about you read the thread for what it says and not put your own spin on it, and make it something it isn't.

This thread was not intended to start a "Who is better war." It was to see if anyone has gone from RN to Paramedic. It's that simple. Most people on here have answered some part of the question. The professions are apples and oranges.

To those who answered my question with their experiences, THANK YOU!!!!

I guess you must not have read the comment policy about not making personal attacks. I feel that you have done so with the above statements. To say I would not be of any credit in the nursing profession burns me to no end. You don't know me, you don't know what makes me tick and what drives me in life. You don't know where my heart is. My heart is about the ability to care for someone in their time of need and to help them heal on all levels physically, emotionally, and spiritually. At it's very core THAT is nursing. I never said I wanted to be a FF, I said that fire departments use paramedics, that's it. And who said anything about faulting the nursing profession for my education. Maybe it's because I didn't study as well as I could have, and that would be my fault, not nursing nor selecting a poor program. How about you read the thread for what it says and not put your own spin on it, and make it something it isn't.

If my remarks offended you, being a nurse may be rough for you. As you become a medical professional, expect some criticism whether you want to hear it or not. Taking things to personally will wash you out before you even get started.

Let me refresh your memory about the comment you made comparing Paramedic school to nursing.

I couldn't agree more about learning more in paramedic training than in nursing school. At least so far, that has been my case. I am in an accelerated nursing program that is completed in one year, and after 5 months, I'm not sure I have learned anything. haha.

My comment for that:

I don't think you can fault the nursing profession for your selection of a poor program. I seriously doubt if you will be any credit to the nursing profession.

You went to an RN program that was accelerated and are now trying to say how much more one learns from Paramedic school than nursing.

This thread was not intended to start a "Who is better war." It was to see if anyone has gone from RN to Paramedic. It's that simple.

But that is only if the replies are what you want to hear. You may not be ready to hear the negatives.

I have to say, I've never seen this before. I've seen a full time M-F 8 hours a day paramedic program, which was still 9 or 10 months. Plus the EMT-B which is 6 weeks on a similar full time schedule.

I'm not trying to say that a 4 month program can't exist, but I'd be interested in how much fast of a pace you could make the program and still meet the required classroom, clinic, and ride along hours. If they truely have a program that is that fast, I'd actually be scared by it. Leaves little time for students to actually absorb information.

EMT-B

http://www.unitekeducation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123&Itemid=134

http://www.ccjatraining.com/courses-training/accelerated-emt-b-outline.pdf

Paramedic

http://www.teex.com/teex.cfm?pageid=training&area=teex&templateid=14&Division=ESTI&Course=EMS135&navdiv=ESTI

Texas only requires 624 hours to be a Paramedic.

http://www.mpcc.edu/Accelerated_EMT-Paramedic.html

Some FDs and ambulance services also contract with private tech schools to rush their employees through with just the minimum hours. The entire 24 hour shift may even be counted as clinical hours even if no calls are ran and ALS calls can involve just attaching a monitor. If a required number of ALS patient contact is needed, this would make it easy to get the number which is sometimes just 40 patients. If done on an ALS engine, the student may not even need to accompany the patient to the hospital. Each state can do what it wants.

My state only requires 1000 hours total and the programs average 7 months including clinicals.

If my remarks offended you, being a nurse may be rough for you. As you become a medical professional, expect some criticism whether you want to hear it or not. Taking things to personally will wash you out before you even get started.

Let me refresh your memory about the comment you made comparing Paramedic school to nursing.

My comment for that:

You went to an RN program that was accelerated and are now trying to say how much more one learns from Paramedic school than nursing.

But that is only if the replies are what you want to hear. You may not be ready to hear the negatives.

No, that is only if the replies are answering the question. I am not interested in hearing from others which one is better as I am very familiar with both professions. I am not interested in hearing about those who went from Paramedic to RN as that is a very typical path. I am interested in hearing from those who have gone the other way, which is not typical, and went from RN to paramedic. That was my question, nothing more.

As far as what I have learned thus far, my statement is saying that a combination of material taught, my inability to study correctly, the way the course was taught, all play a factor into whether I feel I have learned anything. I am sure you can ask any nursing student whether they feel they have learned anything in their first 4 months of nursing school and I would reason that you would get a very similar response.

I have very tough skin, but when you challenge my character and my heart, you will get a fight from me. Not because I'm sensitive or am going to go home and cry to mommy. Again, you know nothing of my background, and I am not going to enlighten you by writing a book just so you can know. You don't know my previous experiences or the criticism I can take. You can criticize my skills, my lack of knowledge, my inability to document correctly, BUT don't come on here and criticize my will and my character. I can more than make it in the nursing profession. I can more than handle myself in any situation. Ah, but you wouldn't know that, because you don't know me. Interesting how that works, huh.

So let me ask you this. Are you and RN who went back and got your Paramedic and now work at both. If the answer is no, then I am not interested in hearing anything you have to say about the matter.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

It's official moderator request time ... keep it civil, everyone, or I will close this thread. Thanks.

It's official moderator request time ... keep it civil, everyone, or I will close this thread. Thanks.

Please, go ahead and close the thread. Be my guest. I thought the originator could delete the thread, as I can do that on other forums, but I guess not here. So please, go ahead and close this thread.

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