Paramedic to Nursing School Transition?

[IdentityCC]

Hello,

I'm a paramedic of 5 years in the Vancouver area and am wanting to now go into nursing school to become an RN. I know how to do this and the whole application process for all the schools, but my main question is exactly how will my paramedic background affect me either positively or negatively. This is the main thought that is concerning me as I've had many people tell me that paramedic thinking screws with you in some portions of the program. I've also read online that some didn't even have to study for almost the first whole year because it's just a repeat. I'm just so confused as to what to expect.

So main bits:

-What are the advantages of my background?

-What are the disadvantages of my background?

-What should I do and/or say to prevent any negatives coming from my background?

And then also a bit of an off topic question:

-Do you think it's a good or bad idea to work weekends as a paramedic while in nursing school?

Thanks for the help guys!

[Jayjormom]

Your background will definitely give you an advantage. Skills and patient interaction will come very easy to you. Alot of the material won't sound foreign to you. My advice, put your paramedic brain on the shelf while in school. Most of the time if you answer like a paramedic, you'll be wrong. I studied religiously and did well in school. Some of the material was a refresher. Most of it was new and very detailed. It is an enormous amount of information to learn in such a short amount of time. You won't have to say anything about your paramedic history. Your instructors usually know who has a medical background within the first few weeks of clinical. If you can work without it affecting your studies, by all means go for it. I decided to apply for an er tech job in my last year. Got hired on my unit before graduation. Something you may want to consider. This is going to be a great experience(hopefully) for you. At least mine was. It was crazy stressful and lost the last 2 years of my life but I'm sure it will be worth it. Nursing school is hard. But put in the work and you'll be fine. Good luck on your journey

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I know several former paramedics who are now very competent and respected registered nurses. As the PP mentioned, there is a different mindset you'll have to employ as a nurse; paramedic training is focused on rapid assessment, stabilization and transport to a higher level of care. Nursing takes a longer-term view. So you will have to park your paramedic brain, at least while you're in school.

Skills you've developed as a paramedic that will be a huge advantage to you as an RN are things like that rapid assessment/primary survey, emergency scene management, IV insertions, BVM ventilation and advanced airways, management of C-spine injuries, providing high-quality care with limited resources and in confined spaces and interaction with patients and others. Disadvantages might be that you're used to autonomous or relatively autonomous practice and that thought processes are different when you're in the moment, rather than looking down the road.

The only drawback I can think of with continuing to work weekends is managing the workload of nursing school with limited time. You'll also have to maintain a mental division between your paramedic scope and your nursing student scope. You may be very skilled at intubating someone with a C-spine injury and be expected to do it as a paramedic but if you even try it as an RN, you'll be in huge trouble.

Best wishes!

[IdentityCC]

Super thanks for the answers guys! Both of you helped a lot and all my questions were answered! Thanks!

[CG93]

I work with an RN now who also received a paramedic education (Ontario) before applying to nursing school.

She is happy with the decision she makes but will always be the first to volunteer to take patients on inter-facility transfers just to get back into the ambulance

Good Luck !