Paramedic/MICU a good combo?

Specialties MICU

Published

I'm a paramedic, and enrolled in a CNL (accel. bachelors/masters) program. I was told by a prof that I'm going to have to let being a medic go, but I love prehosp. medicine, trauma nursing, love MICU for its complexity and knowledge base plus continuity of care. I think prehospital medicine and ICU nursing are complementary. Any opinions??

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Hello, bjr3645 and welcome to allnurses.com

Glad to have you with us.

I don't understand, "let being a medic go"??? What did your prof mean??

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Hi siri,

I think she's a little old school, and i honestly felt she was implying that being a paramedic has no place in your career once you become an RN. (PS, we're being groomed to be nursing leaders). I was kind of taken aback by her statement, but am trying to get an opinion before I jump to conclusions. Thanks

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

I would have to understand exactly what she was trying to convey to you before I could even hazard a guess of what she meant.

But, to answer your question if you would have to give up being a paramedic - no. I see no immediate reason for that at all. I'm not a paramedic, but am an NP and an EMT and the latter only serves to enhance the former especially in pre-hospital.

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I agree, thank you......I might ask her for some clarification about her thoughts, but only after I think carefully about how to word it all......when I was a nursing assistant and an emt, i felt strongly about complementary forces at work, and I think medic/micu is the same, just on a grander scale.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
I might ask her for some clarification about

her thoughts, but only after I think carefully about how to word it

Agree.....;)

Good luck in your nursing program.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

10 year medic here, graduating (BSN) next month and took a job in STICU in a level 1 trauma center. What is a CNL, excuse my ignorance.

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Clinical Nurse Leader, it's a relatively new education program that has been developed.

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hello brj345 welcome to alnurses.

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I can't see why it wouldn't be a good combo. I am also a paramedic and I hope to start nursing school this January (and too have ICU aspirations). EMS personnel are trained to deal with critical care situations in which there is no one else (i.e. nurses, docs) there to help or call the shots (unless you're on the radio with the doc). In other words, we do the assessment AND the care until such time the pt is released to hospital staff. Alas, our critical care experience prior to nursing school is about a intensive as one can get. The main transition, of course, is doing long term pt management. However, I like to think that the stressful situations that paramedics deal with on the street is good training for ICU.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency, Education, Informatics.

I"ve done both. You don't have to "let the paramedic go". However, you do have to learn to change your mindset when your working in the ICU vs prehospital. Whatever you do, don't let your certification go. I did and I"ll have to go back to school to get it back.

The ability to think outside the box that you learn as a medic can be helpfull as a ICU nurse. Critical thinking is critical thinking. As a prof I've had to deal with medics who think they know everything already. Just be carefull and keep your mind open.

WIth both you'll be a good canadate for a flight position later on.

You might find though that after awhile you'll get bored, depending on the acuity of the ICU you end up in.

Good luck. It's always nice to see medics who are moving on in their carrers.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I actually see the man's point. I was a paramedic way back, and just graduated nursing school last year. I work in the ICU now. Nursing is way different! You are no longer thinking for the moment, but have to look at the whole critical thinking process now. You have to deal with families, and more coworkers. Right now, we have a paramedic in our critical care class, and he can be quite a pain in the a.. He argues with the teachers because he doesn't do things that way. He has been told that when he takes boards, he best not be thinking "paramedic" ways, or he won't pass. Sure, knowing the skills will surely help alot, but nursing is alot more then just the skills.

Dorie

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