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

Specialties Emergency

Published

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

The funny thing is, most of the people who say that ARE EMT's. lol No one nurse manager has said that to me, but everybody else has an opinions. That and nurses who started out as EMT's. lol Don't get me wrong, i'm sure it would be beneficial, but not NECESSARY. Thanks for the support! :roll

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Specializes in Uromycetisis Poisoning.

As a paramedic, I can tell you that by completing EMT training, the only thing you'll be better prepared for is working in a transport environment. If you're not planning on working outside the hospital, then find other training that would really help you.

I would concentrate on courses like ACLS, NRP, TNCC, etc. and would take a CEN review class before challenging the CEN exam. If you would like to learn some pre-hospital type skills such as spinal immobilization (these can be great skills to have in the ED), then sign up for a BTLS or PHTLS class. Most of the classes for paramedics are open to nurses as well and only take a couple of days to complete.

This makes much more sense to me because in my state, EMT school takes about a year to complete, and you've already had a lot of what they would be teaching.

Whatever you decide, don't think of EMT school as a breeze since you are a nurse. A friend of mine (who has her MSN) went to EMT school because it was required in order for her to become a flight nurse. She failed out at mid-term, believe it or not. It's different, but far from easier. Don't let anyone fool you. I've seen both.

PMDC, soon to be Paramedic/RN

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Originally posted by Pmdc

This makes much more sense to me because in my state, EMT school takes about a year to complete, and you've already had a lot of what they would be teaching.

Whatever you decide, don't think of EMT school as a breeze since you are a nurse. A friend of mine (who has her MSN) went to EMT school because it was required in order for her to become a flight nurse. She failed out at mid-term, believe it or not. It's different, but far from easier. Don't let anyone fool you. I've seen both.

PMDC, soon to be Paramedic/RN

Oh no! I don't think that at ALL. I just think as a RN that to work in the ER its NOT necessary to have been or be an EMT. I've thought several times about taking the course, cuz i think it would be fun and "enhance" me. But i don't think it should be what i HAVE to do to work in the er. But thanks for the input! I really appreciate it!

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Specializes in Emergency/Critical Care Transport.

I've been a paramedic for the last 24 years and nurse for only the last two. I can tell you that I work with nurses who have never seen the inside of ambulance and can run circles around me. I am so impressed with these ladies. I also work with nurses that were paramedics and it makes a difference in a completly different way. In the way we approach a patient's medical problem isn't the same but the rsult is. I think EMS training would complement and nursing skills you have but it is in NO WAY a needed requirment to be a good ED nurse. I would say the nurses I admire most have no EMS experience.

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Thanks Medic! :)

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Specializes in Emergency/Critical Care Transport.

Shucks Ma'am. Twern't nothin' :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
Originally posted by Medic946RN

I've been a paramedic for the last 24 years and nurse for only the last two. I can tell you that I work with nurses who have never seen the inside of ambulance and can run circles around me. I am so impressed with these ladies. I also work with nurses that were paramedics and it makes a difference in a completly different way. In the way we approach a patient's medical problem isn't the same but the rsult is. I think EMS training would complement and nursing skills you have but it is in NO WAY a needed requirment to be a good ED nurse. I would say the nurses I admire most have no EMS experience.

This is a GREAT explanation. Doesn't everyone bring something unique to their practice of nursing just for being a different person with different skills? I am proud of the fact that I speak french and good (not fluent but am working on it) spanish.

I think I'm going to start a thread about this! :)

I am so glad you formulated that in just the right way Medic946RN. My husband is an AWESOME ED nurse and hasn't set foot in an ambo ever.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.

OK, maybe I am a little biased... :) :) :)

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you can be biasted! :cool: Everybody has their favorite cheerleader right? ;)

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I have worked in the ED since graduation (many years ago) in a hospital which encorporates EMT's as techs and Paramedics (as paramedics) side-by-side with the RN's. The scope of practice is different for each field but each person is invaluable. The assets brought by each is a varied as their individual personalities. Focus still is on patient care regardless on the initials behind their names. Currently, I also work as a CCTRN on an ambulence occasionally. Perhaps this is the type of experience "they" were referring to when "they" suggested you get EMT???? experience. It is different dropping a line in the back of a rig vs. a guerney.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

No, you do not need to be a EMT to be an ER nurse. But since I come from an ICU and Er background (about 20 years) and I now work in ERs on weekends for a registry and my full time job is at a fire department EMS office, I feel qualified to speak. ER nurses are woefully underinformed regarding what goes on during scene calls. The medics and EMTs work their butts off and do the best they are ALLOWED and then get hassled at the ER. I see it all the time. A lot of nurses expect more than what is in the field providers scope of practice and some just get angry with the crews that bring in more work(patients) and then leave. Some times I wonder if some nurses really believe that the medics and EMTs set their alarms for three am just to go out and find a drunk or something to bring in and hassle the ER staff.

ER nurses need to take another look at what their field providers can and cannot do and how they do it. And yes, some of the field providers need to be a little more charitable to the nurses that accept the patients from them.

Thanks for the space for my voice.

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blue

u go girl i think that is wonderful that you want to go back to work. i think it is great . i too could not leave my job. i love the hospital. such a good feeling helping people:eek:

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