Greetings

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