NREMT Paramedic/AEMT Challenge

icurn1988 · Feb 1, 2016

You are eligible to gain your Paramedic using your RN credentials. Here are the requirements the Paramedic level:

There has been one change to the Paramedic level entry for RN candidates. The program that reviews and approves the training/education can no longer just issue a certificate of completion as verification of equivalency. In order for a program to maintain accreditation, they will essentially need to take you on as their student. The program will need to ensure that you have met the same level of education and course requirements as a "traditional" paramedic student. As long as the program is willing to verify this is correct, you will select their program when filling out the application and they will electronically approve your course completion.

. Must be currently state or NREMT certified at the EMT level or higher

. Contact a state approved and CAAHEP accredited paramedic program to confirm their education meets or exceed the EMS education standards in the US. The paramedic program will take on the student and run them through as their own once they've confirmed the education

. Letter of support from the state EMS office where the applicant will be licensed and working

. Must have a current CPR credential at the BLS Healthcare Provider level or equivalent

. NREMT psychomotor exam

. NREMT cognitive exam

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 1, 2016

Here we go again....

Please do not challenge this! Being a medic and a Nurse I can tell that the two professions are totally different with different ways of thinking! GO TO SCHOOL!!!

Annie

emtpbill, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 1, 2016

I second what AnnieOakly said!

Bob Loblaw · Feb 1, 2016

Thanks. The paramedic schools near me aren't really interested in getting involved in anything like this. All their grads are trying to get their RN with accelerated bridge classes, but there aren't very many bridges from RN to paramedic. I work with several paramedics who do RN work on the side for the coin and they don't feel there is that much difference between hands on ED RN and paramedic except loosing alot of autonomy waiting for practitioners order. My next plan is the 2 week paramedic class in Omaha.

RNdynamic · Feb 1, 2016

Pretty sure there is only the 2 week program that you have to fly across the country for. Everyone seems to use Creighton. Everyone I know who was an RN and wanted to be a paramedic did it that way. There is definitely no way to simply "challenge" a paramedic exam as an RN. Paramedics have skills that RNs are not trained to perform, so for an RN to challenge it would not be possible. You still have to have some preparation.

You can challenge the EMT exam as an RN, however. I am an NREMT and I did just that. The method of doing this varies from state to state, however. I had to take a refresher.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 2, 2016

Ugh, please, don't ever care for me or my family if you are bridging or taking a two week paramedic class!!

It's not as easy as it looks!!

Annie

Bob Loblaw · Feb 2, 2016

You should complain to NREMT- if its an approved course its an approved course. Get on your high horse and ride on over there.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2016

It is up to the states to approve the training level. If they want you to complete a full or shortened class, it is up to the state. It isn't NREMT that would approve it, it is your state. Some states let you apply to take the exam without having a class. It is really weird, but NREMT is not a license to practice. You need to have a state license or certificate. In fact, for most parts, NREMT is only really useful if you plan on moving.

This is an unofficial not guaranteed to be updated list (my state offers a RN to medic short class but it isn't mentioned there) : http://www.nasemso.org/NewsAndPublications/News/documents/NASEMSOsurvey051208.pdf

If you say what your state is, I'll take a look and see if I can find info.

waterpeace13 · Feb 3, 2016

Please, please, please do not try and fast track becoming a paramedic. Unless you have a hospital based job or helicopter/transport position lined up that would require both licenses then maybe you can get away with it. If you plan on responding to 911s then you NEED to actually learn how to be a paramedic.

There are many things that overlap in nursing and in being a paramedic but there are many skills that medics need to be comfortable with that most nurses are not trained to do. Can you intubate? RSI? Set up and manage a vent or CPAP? Can you start an external jugular iv? Or an interossous? Maybe an emergency cricothyrotomy? How about 12-leads? Can you identify a STEMI quickly and be responsible for activating the cath lab from the field? How comfortable are you with ACLS/PALS but actually running a code is one of the easier things that medics do, believe it or not.

Most of the knowledge a medic has must be available immediately from memory. You almost never have time to look up a med dose, or time to sit and think about thing for more than a few seconds and you shouldn't be contacting a doctor for orders unless you have exhausted all your protocols. Almost everything a medic does is a standing order.

You may be able to pass the 2 week class but good luck with the NREMT-P practical stations. And the written test. Not to mention if you do get through those precepting is going to be very difficult, you are NOT trained on the job. Precepting is basically a test of your skills on the road. Senior medics do not just let people skate by. EMS is a rough place.

I am sorry if this post seems harsh but out on the streets and in the back of an ambulance there is minimal help, and its you and your partner who is usually an EMT. If you can't do the job well then people die!

Please just get your EMT, you can still respond to 'cool' 911 calls. And you would be an asset to EMS.

FatsWaller, BSN, RN · Jul 3, 2017

waterpeace13 said:
There are many things that overlap in nursing and in being a paramedic but there are many skills that medics need to be comfortable with that most nurses are not trained to do. Can you intubate? RSI? Set up and manage a vent or CPAP? Can you start an external jugular iv? Or an interossous? Maybe an emergency cricothyrotomy? How about 12-leads? Can you identify a STEMI quickly and be responsible for activating the cath lab from the field? How comfortable are you with ACLS/PALS but actually running a code is one of the easier things that medics do, believe it or not.

This seems to be such a hot topic, but I disagree with a few of the posters. It is completely dependent on where you work and what department you work in, especially if you have a specialty certification (TCRN, CFRN, CCRN, CEN, CTRN). I work as a trauma nurse in a busy trauma I center that sees a large diversity of patient cases and injuries. Also, most of the EMS workers in the surrounding counties (we are the only trauma center in the region, ~80 mile radius) are BLS so not much of anything has been done when the patient arrives. I can't really think of something I haven't done that a paramedic does in the field (aside from a cricothyrotomy, which aren't done very often). I was also an EMT/Firefighter for a while so I know what medics do, I am aware of the difference of being in the field from a trauma bay. But every day I initiate and titrate paralytics, intubation drugs, vasoactive drips, blood products, crystalloid and colloid resuscitation, emergent splinting and traction/reduction, I place EJs daily, IOs about twice a week, every trauma/chest pain patient gets a 12 lead and I interpret it (especially if triaging, you can't believe how many EMT/medics come in with â€˜fake' patient vitals and misinterpreted 12 leads saying, they're fineâ€�, on more than one occasion..off to the cath labâ€¦) I often assist with chest tube insertion, insert LMA, Kings, and on some occasions ET tubes when needed, set up and maintain ventilators. I interpret ongoing lifepak rhythms and cardiovert/shock/pace as needed, codesâ€¦you are correct in that is the simplest intervention, and we run them every day. ACLS/PALS? Every trauma nurse here is proficient, and we are also required to have TNCC within 6 months and TCRN + CEN in a year and a half. We are trained in central lines to assist residents, we are proficient in USPIV placement, internal defibrillation, assisting emergent EVD placement, cracking chests, etc . I am not sitting here saying that I would be ready tomorrow to go out and act as a paramedic, but If I took a bridge course, or landed a job as a flight RN and needed my cert, I am glad states like California allow me to challenge the education because I do not need a two-year long course. you must still attend the entire 480 hours of field internship, including 40 ALS patient contacts and have to take the NREMT paramedic exams, so I don't see what else you need to prove you are competent. Hell, an intubation course to freshen up maybe. All I know is I would be 100% confident in my abilities to provide above competent care as a paramedic, especially after 480 hours and passing the boards. Now if you are an RN in med-surg, surgical services, PCU, TCU, and hell many ICU's, then yes I can see where opinions like AnnieOakley and Waterpeace stem, I would not trust these nurses either, there would be too much to learn. Not that they aren't as smart or proficient, but they do not handle emergent situations daily or at all with limited information and time. It's a completely different type of nursing, hence why the age old ER vs ICU/Floor RN thing exists.

Bob Loblaw · Dec 25, 2017

I did find out in FL, you can challenge the states test if anyone lives there is interested and so can a dentist. Help Center | Florida Department of Health