I know this is a topic which has probably been hashed to death, but I am curious to find out nurse's views on this. Before starting, let me say please read the whole post as I do see both sides of the picture. I am an experienced medic who works for a busy fire/ems service and frequently do critical care transports (including long distance as we are located an hour from any major trauma centers and frequently have difficulty getting helicopters to fly due to weather). I have applied for several positions within hospitals to work and the only position they have been willing to give is the equivalent to a tech/aide in the ER with enhanced privledges. Many of the medics I know have made the transition from the street to the hospital in search of better pay, and while the pay does increase, the ability to perform procedures and use all of our training is severely restricted. Most have had their wings clipped to the point of being reduced to nothing more than doing a nurse's scut work and starting IV's. There is also a major arguement between the nurses and medics as to who is better suited to a hospital. Here's my thoughts on it for all it's worth. Medics are trained to the emergency environment more so than nurses are. We are trained to complete difficult procedures above what a nurse is as well as function completely independent of a physician under most circumstances (though we have ability to contact med control as needed, we work mostly under a physician's standing orders). Also, we perform procedures in the worst of environments (it's one thing to intubate or start an iv in a well lit room, another to do it in a crunched up car, in a creek at midnight). Many medics find out they aren't cut out for the job after realizing this, I can't imagine the terror of even an experienced nurse who is used to functioning in a hospital being presented with that situation. That being said, here is my thoughts for you nurses. I will be the first to say when it comes to care for a special needs patient or one with a chronic disease, you all stand far and above what any medic knows, I don't care what they say. In my transports, if it is something that I am not familiar with, or a nurse knows a patient's history particularly well, I'm all for her/him accompanying me on the transport. I can always appreciate the second set of experienced hands. I will even ask for a nurse to accompany me many times even if one is not given for this reason. I am trained to deal with emergencies, not chronic patients. My job is to keep them alive until you all can perform whatever surgery, medical treatments, etc they need. I am NOT a long term care provider on any level, therefore, I don't know a patient's history as well as you may as you have cared for them for several days many times before I transfer them out and can provide me with valuable information. During my clinicals, I was well educated by great nurses who really took the time to teach me, but also showed me the differences in the care they give and we do. I have tremendous respect for the nursing profession, but while they do have different focuses, I believe BOTH have a place in a hospital. Hear me, I am not saying that nurses should be removed from the ER, simply trained differently, more like a medic. Is why so many flight services require your paramedic or at least the EMT-basic in addition to a nursing degree is to manage the the on scene difficulties one encounters. I believe a medic is not experienced enough in care to be placed anywhere except the ER in a hospital. However, I feel in addition to a nurse, if treated equally, a medic has a definite place there. What are your all's thoughts? You've heard mine, now let me know yours ! Thanks so much.
