If ONE more person tells me......

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to be an ER nurse it would be helpful to be an EMT i'm going to SSSCCCRRRREEEEAAAAMMMM! :angryfire I swear, i just don't get it. No i'm not knocking EMT's. I'm a RN, i have a degree, i've done med surg nursing, post op cardiac nursing, geriatric nursing and peds nursing. Some as an LVN, some as a RN. The last hospital i worked at was m/s, and i got the chance to float to the ER quite frequently and i was hooked. I'm one of those "work better amidst chaos" type people. i'm a much better nurse when i'm busy and challenged. I like trauma, i like the "treat 'em and street 'em" patients, i like them all. I think i would be a GREAT ER nurse given the opportunity. I haven't worked in 3 years cuz i've pretty much been pregnant for 3 years :chuckle and this is my last baby. i want to go back to work when s/he is a few months old, maybe part time, maybe not. So i'm working on my resume NOW. I plan on trying to take ACLS and PALS as soon as a class opens up. So several different people have told me "it would be helpful if you were an EMT" WHY? What has THAT got to do with anything???? GGGGGRRRRRRRR

One day i'll get there. I swear i will!

Thanks for the vent. I just had to cyber scream!!!! lol:D

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I went into the ER right out of nursing school. None of the nurses I work with were ever EMTS and they are fine. Everyone seems to know what's best for everyone else. Everyone has an opinion. Just ignore them.

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What a bunch of crap!

We'd love to have you in psych. Plenty of adrenaline junkies find this to be their niche.;)

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I used to work as an EMT for several years. It was good experience in setting up IV's, etc., however, I have been looking into going back to school to get my RN license. Even LPN training is much more involved than EMS was. There are certain experiences that a nurse could gain after being in the field, but that doesn't mean they can't be a great nurse even if they've never done it. I moved and there were no local ems positions, found a good job I'm happy at, let my emt licenses lapse is the only reason I'm no longer doing it. Plus, pursuing education further before I'm old and forgetful:chuckle

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.

When I went to sign up for senior practicum I thought for sure they'd give me ED when I whined about my EMS experience. The recruiter told me that actually EMTs are some of the biggest problem nurses cuz we're so used to being lone rangers and think we know it all. I told her that I was the exception because I actually do know it all :D I told her I was just kidding but I still ended up in ICU!

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bulls#*%!!!

EMT's are wonderful - however the best rn's i have worked w/ were never emt's - actually sometimes it hinders them because there is a different focus of care.

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Thanks for the support. I swear it KILLS me. lol I mean, EMT's are EMT's. Nurses are taught to save and sustain. Whether or not i'm an EMT doesn't mean i'll be a great nurse in the ER. I think i'd be an asset to an ER. Eventually that is.........lol But you are right, its about a different focus. Nurses (in general i'd like to think) focus on the patient. Most EMT's i've worked with in the past focus on the injury or problem. Its just the difference in the way we are taught.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I went into the ED straight out of school, and I start plenty of IVs, even thought i only started less than a handfull during school.

We do have medics in our ED on night shift, and they are incredibly smart, also our LPNs are also medics ( 2 of them).

I do not believe you must be EMT to get into ED, Congrats on having your babies and going for your pals and acls, that will help.

It seems as though you have alot of experience as a nurse, and you shouldn't have any trouble getting into the ED. Best of luck

Thanks for cyber screaming, i love it!

xo

Jen

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.

Frankly, I'm surprised. I've heard of flight nurses needing EMT training. That makes sense, since they do scene runs. But ER nurses needing EMT training???

Get your resume together and focus on your rapid assessment skills (that you may have learned elsewhere). If you have ACLS and PALS, you should be able to find a job without the EMT training. And don't worry about being "out-of-the-loop" for 3 years, you'll pick it up again in no time.

Good Luck!

David Woodruff

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Specializes in ED staff.

I've worked with people who were EMT's and people who have were never EMT's. The only thing I can think of that is essential to both professions is ACLS. I've been an ED nurse for 14 years, it's not essential to be a medic IMO.

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I went to the ED right out of school, and I was only the 2nd RN to ever do that in our department. I later on got my EMT, and eventually do plan on becoming a Medic. I do not believe you have to be an EMT to be a good ED nurse. Someone else said in in another post, that the focus of care is way different. I am currently taking a break from the ED, but will someday return to it. Once it is in your blood, your addicted to the ED.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Med-Surg, Progressive Care.

The only advantage I can think of is to be able to care for the patient who drives up to the ER with injuries requiring spinal stabilization.

Nurses are not taught to extricate patients from vehicles, so there might be an advantage there. However, this skill would be easy to learn from the local fire department.

Otherwise, EMT training will be pretty redundant with what you already know.

David Woodruff

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