Paramedic before finishing nursing school?

WorkinTheStreets · Jul 16, 2008

You can do it the other way....finish nursing school and then challenge the medic test. If you think being out on the street is the way to go, then do it...having your nursing license gives you something to fall back on. Physical injuries are common place in the field...getting hit buy a car, lifting injury, slip/fall. As a nurse who started as a medic put it to me, "How long do you want to be laying on the hood of a car, in the snow, in 10 below 0 weather, holding together some kids life who's car just lost an argument very solid object?" I'm going nursing first and will probably challenge the medic test some time after that. There is not much of the medic program that will apply to a nursing program, which is why I chose this route.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2008

One of the issues is that it can take so much longer to become a paramedic than it did in the past. Agency-based EMS programs are being phased out in many areas and college-based paramedic programs are moving toward the AAS degree. If you really want to be a nurse, your time might be better spent taking some more core/general courses to get back on track for nursing school readmission.

What is it that makes you lean toward one versus the other?

diveRN · Jul 16, 2008

Strongly consider your nursing degree because the paramedic scope is pretty narrow. If you get burned out, you won't have many options as a medic.

With an RN degree and license, you can take an accelerated medic program, some agencies will often allow you to challenge the didactic portion, and then all you have to do is your clinical time.

Here, medics have to do 400 precepted clinical hours. I had considered going this route to have something outside the hospital to do, but 400 unpaid hours would take me several years to recoup at a medic's pay. It didn't make any financial sense for me to proceed.

I've recently dropped a few resumes for local CCTRN positions. Would get me out of the hospital now and again and pays pretty well comparatively.

firecoins · Jul 18, 2008

I am completing my medic class right now. I choose the medic path first because I had no interest in nursing initially and the nursing program has a long wait list.

I enjoy EMS more but as mentioned I want a back up plan. Injury and burnout are common in EMS and pay is better in nursing.

stiltarget · Jul 18, 2008

in nyc the paramedic salary is great. it will help with your nursing school tuition, but if i could do it over i would have started nursing first and challenged the medic. although, its starts out fun the job tends to become a dead end field( here in nyc) where as with nusring the option or almost endless, i dont know what the salary is like in PA but in the city if you dont work for FDNY you will make ruffly 25-30 hr within the 911 system working 8-12 hour shifts..... but by all means if you can afford nursing school without EMS doit!..

moomoo111 · Jul 23, 2008

I am a former Paramedic and I agree with all the above posts. I got burned out, had a back injury and nowhere to go and nothing to do. Nobody would hire me even with my background, not because of the back, that got fixed. Nursing is much better and much safer. You don't get burned out as fast and go ahead and get that nursing first. It is much harder to back to school to be a nurse and it takes longer and the classes are more in depth. go the nursing route then go back and challenge the medic. I promise you will not go wrong. It it's too hard with little ones at home, take it slow. Once they get to school age, it will be much easier. good luck:nuke:

paccookie · Sep 30, 2008

I'm in the middle of paramedic school right now. I would ask why you're considering quitting and why you went to medic school in the first place. What are your goals and plans for the future? Are you already an EMT or are you in a fast track type program?

I'm in my 2nd semester and will graduate in May with both a certificate in paramedic technology and an associate of applied science in EMS. I had already taken all of the core classes I needed for the degree prior to enrolling in this program, but most people finish the certificate first and then return to school for the degree. I love working in EMS, but I also have plans to return to school for a nursing degree in the future. First, I would like to work for a while and finish up the remaining few core classed I need towards a BSN and get the experience I need to start working in flight as a medic. I'm already working at a high-volume service, with plans to add a part time job at a level one trauma center's EMS service once I graduate. After a few years and a few more cerfications under my belt, I plan to start looking for a flight medic job. Nursing school will happen when it is meant to happen; I'm not in a huge rush for that at this point in my life, especially after being in school non-stop for the past three years. I drive 100 miles one way to school right now, because it's the best paramedic school in the state (and the only one that is actually at a college, not a tech school) and I think I'll be ready for a bit of a break from school once I graduate. LOL

Anyway, the point is that you need to know what YOU want out of life and out of whatever degree you're pursuing. Do you want to be a medic or do you want to be a nurse? And most importantly...why? What are your ultimate goals? I think I'd like to go into anesthesia someday, but I can do that later in life, I can't really picture myself working in flight as an old lady. LOL I'm already 28 and I really want that experience, whether it's as a medic or a nurse. It doesn't matter to me which one it is.

moomoo111 · Oct 1, 2008

I was a Paramedic for almost 15 years. I wanted to work in EMS and I got my Basic EMT and decided I wanted to be able to do more so I went back and got my Paramedic Cert. In SC, you have three levels, Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic. I got burned out and wanted a more controlled environment so I went to nursing school. I just graduated with an LPN diploma and I am waiting to take my state boards now. I am going back to get my RN which will take another year of school. I live in an area that has several flight services and I can fly later if I want to. I may do it PRN but I want to work in a critical care unit first. I've had all the EMS I want for right now. I've worked in big cities, small cities with no hospitals and medium sized cities. I worked with private services and county services. I can't say that I've seen it all because that never happens but I've seen enough. I just wanted to stay in the medical field but wanted a more controlled environment. Here in SC, Paramedics don't make as much as RN's and I will actually make more as an LPN than a Paramedic. It's just my preference to go into nursing. My sister used to live in Warner Robiins, GA, her husband was in the Air Force so I've been there many times. It's a nice place and she misses it very much. They divorced so she moved back to SC and he was transferred to Japan. Good luck in your studies. I started in EMS at age 28. After you turn 40, you kinda know where you want to go and you settle down a little. I got tired of working 24 hour shifts and here in SC most of the medic positions are 24 hours. I like the 12 hour shifts at the hospital. I am a nurse tech but hope to take state boards in the next few weeks. :nurse:

KsMICT · Oct 1, 2008

I agree that the RN-to-paramedic route is the way to go as far as certification. However, as a former medic turned nursing student I can attest that there was a lot I learned in paramedic school that is not taught at an equivalent level in nursing school. I think the difference between the training is medics are taught how to think independently because afterall, you're it. YOU make the decisions of how to manage a patient in that short (but potentially critical) time you're with them. In nursing, you're taught the same overall assessment skills but the assumption is the M.D./ARNP/P.A. will make the ultimate tx decisions.

moomoo111 · Oct 21, 2008

I totally agree. :up: