Paramedic to ADN(Traditional)

Published

I am a NC Paramedic of 6 years and have just been accepted to the nursing program at one of my local community colleges. I know a lot of paramedics prefer to do the online method of getting their ADN, but I wanted to do the traditional method. Long term I plan on getting my BSN at a university that has a transfer program with the college I am going to be attending. The main question I had was did anyone do it this way, over the online option? Any suggestions for making it through and keeping a good GPA? I have heard it is a lot harder for paramedics to go through the class, mostly due to having to relearn what we were taught. I have completed all my prerequisites so the nursing class will have my attention for the next 2 years.

Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hi pdee,

I am a medic and had been one for about 3 years before going back for nursing. I did the traditional ADN program, as you are going to do because I feel there are a few things nurses do that medics do not, like wound care, foleys, central line access, etc. And the whole nursing care is definitely totally different than medic care to say the least!

Clinical was sometimes frustrating because you go work as a medic and you can do things like give IV medications etc on your own, but then you go to clinical and you have to be babysat to flush an IV. :rolleyes: I do feel like nursing schools should give medics some credit and allow the rope out a little more, but I know it is all about liability coverage. Also I found too that some nursing instructors were almost threatened by my being a medic, as some of them treated me poorly once they found out, even though I had no ego and wasn't acting like I knew everything! So you may want to keep it a secret... just an FYI! I have also heard this from other medics who went to traditional school and I think that is why most choose to just do it online!

It was DEFINITELY more work than medic school, and I went to an associates medic program! Nursing school is a lot of busy work and a lot of information since you will take care of a broader scope of patients over your career. There are care plans, which are pure torture, lots of writing for those. I know they were kinda helpful with thinking patient care through, but in my opinion they are outdated, especially when it comes to writing 'nursing diagnoses", you will learn quickly to hate these things! Only a few papers and projects through my program, but a lot of tests! I would just make sure you are tip top on med calculations since most schools are really stringent on that now since it is on the NCLEX. At my school we had to take a medication math test every semester and you had to get a 90% to pass, if you failed x 3 you failed clinical! You will have a lot less time for fun stuff over the next two years, so enjoy your life and hobbies now, but remember when you are in school to make time for yourself and family/friends!

I worked full time as an ER RN for two years ( I was able to get into the ER as a new grad because of my medic experience and it was 2007 when there were plenty of new grad jobs), then dropped to part time and finally to per diem and went back to the ambulance full time. I found nursing in the ER very frustrating and did not like it, I got burnt out really quick. Lots of patient frustrations get vented onto the nurse and it was stressful and draining, where on the ambulance patients are generally thankful for what we do, and if they are not I only have them for about 15 minutes anyway! I am looking for a new nursing job with my focus being on pediatrics or IV team and I just interviewed for both. You may like the ER, but I would suggest looking at a different area since it gets old quick when you have already been in emergency type stuff for a while!

I am in a RN-BSN program with four more classes to go after this semester and I cannot wait to be done. It isn't quite as much work as my ADN program, but there is A LOT of reading and paper writing so be prepared! The good thing about it is you can do it at your own pace...

Well good luck. Feel free to PM me or write on here if you have anymore questions!

Annie

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank yout so much. I am beginning to get nervous about doing this. Unfortunately I just got my certification and had to do a lot of classes prior to getting in. Even the ones I had taken when I thought EMS was what I wanted to do didn't count. Thank you again for your input and I'll be sure to ask if I have anymore questions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have to agree with Annie --- I'm in my fourth semester of a traditional BSN program (1 more to go after this) and have been a Medic for almost 15 years.

I found that transitioning to thinking like a nurse rather than medic in the beginning was the difficult part,,, once I overcame that it's been pretty good since.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I have seen EMS transition slowly at first because nursing is different. BUT, once they get in the swing they are very strong nurses. We have several supervisors on our hospital staff who were medics or paramedics in the past.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion