Greetings

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Specializes in ICU.

i'm glad to see such a informative site with a wealth of information and helpful people that this site seems to contain.

a little about my self; i currently work as a full-time paramedic in a high paced ems system in upstate ny for the last 7 years. i have a wonderful family with 2 kids and absolutely love my job and the autonomy that i currently enjoy. i live on the front lines of health care and absolutely love the fast paced, critical thinking objectives that i must attain and the help/health care that i can deliver to many people. but (there is always a but isn't there?) i must work on average 17-18 hour days (and as much as 24 hour shifts) 6-7 days a week. this pays a heavy toll physically and mentally not only on myself but on my family which has lead me to search for other options and i think the bridge program at excelsior college may be my best choice at this point in time. i currently possess a b.s. in biology and definitely qualify for the bat (bachelors advanced track) rn program at the locally university but would require me going back to working full-time nights as well as going to school full-time, which to me is not worth the even higher toll my family would pay. i understand there are some disadvantages to the ec program at the moment with several states putting restrictions on ec graduate rn's but the advantages far out way the disadvantages at this point (nys has no such restrictions, as well as 44 other states). i feel that i have alot of clinical experience and that the ec program will benefit me greatly with advancing my career in health care.

i currently possess advanced standing as a state level preceptor in nys in ems, as well as having certificates in acls, pals, nals, amls, btls, phtls, as well as being nationally certified with nremt's. after i attain my goal of becoming a rn i hope to find a job that will let me work in a critical care area and use both my ems as well as my rn certificates.

i look forward to interacting with all of you.

chris

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i must work on average 17-18 hour days (and as much as 24 hour shifts) 6-7 days a week.

do you mean to tell me that you routinely work 102-126 hour weeks?

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Specializes in ICU.
do you mean to tell me that you routinely work 102-126 hour weeks?

yes as much as 100 hours a week is routine at this point. 120 on rare occasions.

Take for example this week. I started the week with a reverse 24 hour shift (started at one agency for a 12 hour night shift then move to another agency for another 12 hours during the day shift), this works as most agency in my area work 6am-6pm and 6pm-6am. I then work the next seven days str8 (sunday through sunday) 12 hour day shifts.....and end the whole stent with another 24 hour shift....... so for the week that is 108 hours.

In addition, I live on the boarder of two 911 districts/agencies and Im a member of both agency so if we have a "off-duty" call we can obtain 4 hours of shift pay if we respond and cover the call. This is a good deal as we can claim 4 hours of pay only if the call takes 1.5 hours. Between both agencies I cover on average 4 off-duty calls a week so that can add 8-16 hours extra of pay. It all adds up

Chris

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Specializes in ICU.

:smilecoffeecup: warm hello to all you male RN students out there

lmao

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cool site duh! :)

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Specializes in ICU.

was a little sarcasim to all the welcome posts

lol

:p

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Specializes in ICU.

:welcome: :welcome: :welcome: :welcome: :welcome:

lol

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