Midlife Crisis and I'm Only 22 - need some experienced experience!!

Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 22, 2016

Hey there! I am in a somewhat similar situation as you. I was an EMT running 911 for a few years and I ended up changing my profession to the hospital setting. I am going into a nursing program soon. I absolutely LOVE running 911 but I am currently working pretty much the opposite job right now and I am okay with that for the time being.

You do not need to go to tele after nursing school. You can go ER or ICU or anywhere else for that matter, its all about your networking and how you market yourself. Don't let people tell you that its not possible. It is totally possible. Also, to work on a CCT car you need you CCRN and more than 2 years of critical care experience. You have to be really dialed in to get that gig.

One more thing I want to recommend is analyze what story you have been telling yourself about why your in nursing school. If you can get really jazzed up about the intellectual challenge of treating critical pt. you may be able to use that as motivation to stay in. This is one of my motivations personally. I love taking care of really sick pt. I love the thinking behind the decisions made for the care and I love the DRUGS we get to give. This is one of the many stories I tell myself to keep me motivated. Also your attitude will go a long way, BE POSITIVE about your clinical's even if your wiping butts.

Your attitude will make the difference. If you cant muster up the motivation and you cant find something you get excited about in the nursing field you may want to reevaluate what you want to do.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jul 22, 2016

ER nursing. No brainer. You will thrive.

Guest957596 · Jul 23, 2016

Your "rambling" shows that you don't know what you want to do as your thoughts are going down several paths. The common thing here is medicine: EMS and you're in nursing school. You're 22, right? FINISH nursing school and maintain your EMT, graduate, pass NCLEX and get your RN license. Not everyone goes to "tele". Some go to med/surg, neuro, ICU, ER, etc. New grad programs offer all of these. Having your EMT will help you get hired. And you can go back for your medic later. I'd forget prosthetics. As for being treated like a butler or dealing with rude patients, I had some of the worst scum of the earth when I was a paramedic. Hospital patients don't come close.

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MEH2016 · Jul 23, 2016

Oh, there are times I do miss working on a rig. I was a former EMT-B.

It's all in the attitude. If you think about it, after graduating Nursing school go work in the ER. It's not like working on scene with multiple things that can happen. Instead it will be in a stable environment, where everything you need is within proximity. If you still want to work on a rig, depending where you live, there is a possibility to become an ambulatory nurse.

Good luck!

EmmReeCPT · Jul 24, 2016

Hey there! I am in a somewhat similar situation as you. I was an EMT running 911 for a few years and I ended up changing my profession to the hospital setting. I am going into a nursing program soon. I absolutely LOVE running 911 but I am currently working pretty much the opposite job right now and I am okay with that for the time being.
You do not need to go to tele after nursing school. You can go ER or ICU or anywhere else for that matter, its all about your networking and how you market yourself. Don't let people tell you that its not possible. It is totally possible. Also, to work on a CCT car you need you CCRN and more than 2 years of critical care experience. You have to be really dialed in to get that gig.
One more thing I want to recommend is analyze what story you have been telling yourself about why your in nursing school. If you can get really jazzed up about the intellectual challenge of treating critical pt. you may be able to use that as motivation to stay in. This is one of my motivations personally. I love taking care of really sick pt. I love the thinking behind the decisions made for the care and I love the DRUGS we get to give. This is one of the many stories I tell myself to keep me motivated. Also your attitude will go a long way, BE POSITIVE about your clinical's even if your wiping butts.
Your attitude will make the difference. If you cant muster up the motivation and you cant find something you get excited about in the nursing field you may want to reevaluate what you want to do.

Well, I'm great friends with the nursing coordinator at a prominent company that I already work for. She would prefer 2 years ICU/CCU but would accept ER since she knows me and knows I can function. I'm not thinking about going into prosthetics..still helping people but in a different way. I'm in the mindset of "holy **** I don't think I could spend a length of time with the same annoying patient" since I get so many of those on the rig. It is all mindset and mines all screwy right now. Idk what happened I'm just scared of staying in and hating it, or getting my RN and never doing anything with it or pulling out and regretting it.

IM SO CONFUSED lol

Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 24, 2016

Well, I'm great friends with the nursing coordinator at a prominent company that I already work for. She would prefer 2 years ICU/CCU but would accept ER since she knows me and knows I can function. I'm not thinking about going into prosthetics..still helping people but in a different way. I'm in the mindset of "holy **** I don't think I could spend a length of time with the same annoying patient" since I get so many of those on the rig. It is all mindset and mines all screwy right now. Idk what happened I'm just scared of staying in and hating it, or getting my RN and never doing anything with it or pulling out and regretting it.
IM SO CONFUSED lol

That is a hard spot to be in. You should make a pros/cons list and see where it pans you out. For me I personally would LOVE to work a cct rig. I plan to. For me being able to work 1 day on an ambulance and make more than double what the two emts workng for me are making combined is a great motivation because I've been there driving that darn rig and I know how great that cct Rn job is. I have a feeling you do too. Also in a 12 hour shift in my area a cct may run 3 transports. And you only have one pt. at a time. There are just too many awesome thing to be able to mention them all regarding this spot.

Also! Emt burnout is a very common thing to happen, since pt on a rig can be hard to deal with and hauling people around sucks. Do you think you may just be burnt on your current employment and its spilling over to your schooling?

I could go on for quite some time about all the motivating things that drive me but I dont think that's going to help your situation. I think you need to follow through with this Pegram if it's not breaking the bank and you are able to financially. Don't let something being too hard or yucky or annoying stop you from moving on to bigger and better things. If you could post your pros and cons list that you come up with in here and maybe we can process what is driving you in both directions.

Thank you for your response.

margin261 · Jul 24, 2016

I worked as an EMT for about 7 years before going to nursing school. There are still days when I miss the excitement & rush of it!

My best friend is a paramedic & has almost 30 yrs on the truck- she loves it but she does have regrets at times that she didn't go to nursing school to give her more options.

If you enjoy the EMS stuff, have you given any thought to being a flight nurse?

And, as you get older you might find yourself being less interested in the trauma & rushing around (I did- but you may not). Having your RN will give you more options over time.

EmmReeCPT · Jul 24, 2016

That is a hard spot to be in. You should make a pros/cons list and see where it pans you out. For me I personally would LOVE to work a cct rig. I plan to. For me being able to work 1 day on an ambulance and make more than double what the two emts workng for me are making combined is a great motivation because I've been there driving that darn rig and I know how great that cct Rn job is. I have a feeling you do too. Also in a 12 hour shift in my area a cct may run 3 transports. And you only have one pt. at a time. There are just too many awesome thing to be able to mention them all regarding this spot.
Also! Emt burnout is a very common thing to happen, since pt on a rig can be hard to deal with and hauling people around sucks. Do you think you may just be burnt on your current employment and its spilling over to your schooling?
I could go on for quite some time about all the motivating things that drive me but I dont think that's going to help your situation. I think you need to follow through with this Pegram if it's not breaking the bank and you are able to financially. Don't let something being too hard or yucky or annoying stop you from moving on to bigger and better things. If you could post your pros and cons list that you come up with in here and maybe we can process what is driving you in both directions.
Thank you for your response.

I honestly LOVE my job. I went to work at a hospital for a bit as a phlebotomist and even though it's definitely not nursing, I was somewhat exposed to hospital life. I hated seeing the same people for weeks at a time. I hated that there were so many burnt out nurses super angry at you for asking for help to hold a squirmy patient when the KNOW they're combative/Alzheimer's/etc. This was a trauma center too so you'd figure burn out wouldn't be AS bad as say some little community hospital. I just saw all of the flaws of a hospital, hated it and took a $5 paycut to go back to EMS. Nothing's worth it if you aren't happy.

Sure, I roll my eyes at anxiety and toe pain x3 weeks but at the end of the day, I drop them at the ED and my job is over. CCTRN was my end goal after working as an EMT but even having to get 2 years experience sounds off putting to me. I'm imagining me being a nurse like my aunt, very harsh, cut n dry with no sympathy and I never wanted to be a nurse like her so the fact that I can see myself being her is scaring me and telling me that I'm probably salty before I've even started. If I could be a medic without having to be a FF, I would in a heartbeat but going FD is the only way to go since private medics make pennies more than EMTs in the long run unfortunately. I'm going to at least finish the semester and see how fundamentals goes. I'm never one to quit. I know I can DO it I'm just not sure if I want to anymore and that's foreign. I'm one of those "get out of my way or you're getting mowed down" because I'm just so driven and focus when I want something that me putting on the brakes and thinking about a 180 is just kind of strange and alarming but also exciting at the same time.

EmmReeCPT · Jul 24, 2016

I worked as an EMT for about 7 years before going to nursing school. There are still days when I miss the excitement & rush of it!
My best friend is a paramedic & has almost 30 yrs on the truck- she loves it but she does have regrets at times that she didn't go to nursing school to give her more options.
If you enjoy the EMS stuff, have you given any thought to being a flight nurse?
And, as you get older you might find yourself being less interested in the trauma & rushing around (I did- but you may not). Having your RN will give you more options over time.

Flight nurse would be fun...but I also see how dangerous it is. I ain't tryin ta die! But it's also one of those jobs everyone wants to do and SO competitive and difficult to even find an opening. I had a friend who just finished nursing school suggest a bunch of other options, specifically clinics. Respect to them but they don't perform their full scope. They mostly do vitals and injections and I'd honestly want to be a nurse to do EVERYTHING. Not get stuck in some clinic performing the same few skills over and over and over. Same reason why I would abhor LTC. I know there are definitely options in nursing but other than getting my MS in education, all the other options don't seem like a solid fit and even then, I'd need so much experience to find a job teaching.

Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 24, 2016

I honestly LOVE my job. I went to work at a hospital for a bit as a phlebotomist and even though it's definitely not nursing, I was somewhat exposed to hospital life. I hated seeing the same people for weeks at a time. I hated that there were so many burnt out nurses super angry at you for asking for help to hold a squirmy patient when the KNOW they're combative/Alzheimer's/etc. This was a trauma center too so you'd figure burn out wouldn't be AS bad as say some little community hospital. I just saw all of the flaws of a hospital, hated it and took a $5 paycut to go back to EMS. Nothing's worth it if you aren't happy.
Sure, I roll my eyes at anxiety and toe pain x3 weeks but at the end of the day, I drop them at the ED and my job is over. CCTRN was my end goal after working as an EMT but even having to get 2 years experience sounds off putting to me. I'm imagining me being a nurse like my aunt, very harsh, cut n dry with no sympathy and I never wanted to be a nurse like her so the fact that I can see myself being her is scaring me and telling me that I'm probably salty before I've even started. If I could be a medic without having to be a FF, I would in a heartbeat but going FD is the only way to go since private medics make pennies more than EMTs in the long run unfortunately. I'm going to at least finish the semester and see how fundamentals goes. I'm never one to quit. I know I can DO it I'm just not sure if I want to anymore and that's foreign. I'm one of those "get out of my way or you're getting mowed down" because I'm just so driven and focus when I want something that me putting on the brakes and thinking about a 180 is just kind of strange and alarming but also exciting at the same time.

I totally get where you are coming from. Long term care is a no go for me as well. Not only that, but a culture of burn out at a hospital can break your spirit, and if your positive you are fighting an uphill battle of negativity. Just know that not all hospitals are like that! Hopefully you have seen other really great nurses in the ED's where you drop your pt off. While your working. I'm glad you are not full on dropping out now and your going to complete the semester.

I won't go on and on about how your attitude can change the culture of your unit but it's totally true. You can have a very positive impact anywhere you go and as a nurse you have a huge opportunity to impact a lot of people around you. I know you can do that as an EMT too, you just dont get paid nearly as much, and your essentially doing the same job just at a way higher level in an er.

Best of luck to you! I personally hope you stick it out!

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2016

First of all, you don't have to work Tele starting out. I'm only a couple of hours from you (in the Central Valley), and nearly all of our grads go straight into the specialty of their choice. We actually have grads from all over CA come here to get their experience first because we are an under-served area. You may want to consider moving somewhere that will hire you straight into the ER, it sounds like the perfect fit for you!

Secondly, did your grad friends go to the nursing school that you are starting? If so, I'd rethink that program if they don't allow you to do patient care in the hospital. Granted, first semester is mostly personal care and nursing basics, but after that, we do total patient care in clinical. If our patient needs a foley or an NG tube or an IV, we put it in. If they need to be suctioned, or need blood products, I do it. We administer all their meds. If the pharmacy needs to be called, I do it. We assess, we talk to the dr about their status and changes in status and even recommendations for the patient. I literally don't even see the RN except to get report and then to report off. I can't imagine graduating nursing school without actually having taken on the complete role of nurse under the supervision of my instructor. If your school doesn't offer that, you're young, you have time, you can switch schools to one that will actually prepare you.