I've just graduated with my BSN (ok, I graduate tomorrow). I have 10 years experience as a ski instructor, and 2 years experience as a registration girl in a Trauma I ED. I want to work in the ED as an RN, just trying to get my foot in the door, which is hard here in New England. Not a lot of positions for GN's out there.
I'd also like to ski patrol in my spare time, but even though I'm an RN, I'll need an EMT-B cert to do so. Do I have to take the course? Can I just challenge the exam? Googling isn't providing very many answers. Thought this community could be of some help.
Are you sure that you need EMT-B and not Outdoor Emergency Care certification? When I ski patrolled before nursing school I needed to be OEC certified, and they let me challenge the exam as an EMT-I, so I can't imagine they would have a problem with you challenging as an RN...there was an ED MD who trained at the same time for a volunteer position and he challenged as well. Worth checking into before you drop the money on EMT-B classes, but I will say that, yes, the mindset is very, very different and it would be worth your time...
agree that it would enhance my skills, but my budget for time and money don't allow that. I'm aware of the differences. However, like most patient care, you truly only learn how to do it when you're out there actually making decisions and doing the hands-on care. The skills that I need to pass the test are skills I'll learn as a GN in the ED (starting IV's, c-spine, moving patients, ACLS, etc...) or skills I've already earned - BLS, First aid, assessment, taking history, basic patient care, etc... The rest is simply reading a book and regurgitating it to pass the written.
One thing you will learn in the EMT-B class is boundries. It is important to understand your limitations that will be imposed on you as an EMT-B. There is no crossing boundaries--In most states, EMT-B cannot start IV's or use ACLS, and it can be frustrating at times not to use the skills you have. If you do cross boundries, not only will you lose your EMT-B but the state BON will be after you also. Being an EMT-B is more than reading a book and regurgitating it-in the EMT-B class you will learn pt. handling techniques that you will never face in the ER, and find pts. in situations that you have never dreamed of. Ever extricated a pt. that fell off a snowy ledge and landed in the top of a tree? I have--my first week as a paramedic. Working prehospital in the outdoor environment is a whole new ball game.
I had to take a deep breath before I answered this one.
I have been an EMT for 20+ years and am a new RN. Unless your school was RADICALLY different from mine you probably didn't get much EMERGENCY medical training.
Registration + teaching skiing + nursing school in no way comes close to the material you will receive as an EMT. EMS is a proud service - Prehospital providers, even EMTs, work with more autonomy than any other aspect of medicine and use skill sets that are unique to EMS.
One thing I learned a long time ago is you have to pay your dues. Skiing doesn't make you a NSP'er and nursing school doesn't make you a pre-hospital pro.
Take the EMT course. You will never regret it. Challenging it, even if it could be done, would be the sham way. Why start something in a bogus manner?
Personally, I wish ALL nurses would be mandated to be EMTs before they stepped foot into a RN program.
The best way to take an EMT course is to give back to your community by joining your local ambulance service. You volunteer and they pay for your course.
miss_vtRN
19 Posts
Are you sure that you need EMT-B and not Outdoor Emergency Care certification? When I ski patrolled before nursing school I needed to be OEC certified, and they let me challenge the exam as an EMT-I, so I can't imagine they would have a problem with you challenging as an RN...there was an ED MD who trained at the same time for a volunteer position and he challenged as well. Worth checking into before you drop the money on EMT-B classes, but I will say that, yes, the mindset is very, very different and it would be worth your time...