Paramedic or nursing or both

Mentalageis16 · Apr 3, 2011

hi,

I am a NYS certified paramedic but also a pre-nursing student. Got my certificate in 2009 in my college non-credit program. One thing I can share with you is that, paramedic isn't a easy program and wasn't meant to be fun at all. you need to have the same kind serious attitude to go through paramedic practicals and classroom! This profession is tough. Most people think it's just for someone who lifts and stretcher and can be lazy sitting on the bus and never does anything in reality, that is far from being true! In paramedic curriculum, you will go through the following in sequence, anatomy, phathophysiology, EKG, dymanic EKG, pharmacology, emergency training and a little about phsychology towards patient care. The subtopics are not limited to burning, trauma, peds, OB GYN, etc. I graduated from Stony Brook in class 18 and was lucky to even makes me graduate. When we started class, there's 35 people and ended up only 16 graduate. Instructors like motivated students and they keep you frustrated through the entire 10 months non-stop! there's quizzes every class, exams every week just like nursing! The bottom line is, if you can go through paramedic, it should add points for you to become a nurse later on. Just remember this, nurse is not part of the front line, the pre-hospital people are EMTs, they are the one who's also doing assessment, takingt HPI and try to combine everything in their head in a very quick mannor and wrote on report for doctors and nurses to review! with no mistakes! It's not going to be easy if yo u just think it's fun to do~ but if you really want to get a variety of experiences, its a great stepping stone for something else! While I was a paramedic student, I went through over 800 hrs of clinical rotations, sometimes back to back because schedules are tough, someday I don't eat and just stay on the ambulance with those guys for like 32 hrs straight back to back, but that's because I want to catch up my hrs in order to graduate from program. Shifts are 24 hrs round and buses are always shaking. Some students ended up being sick in the program or injured themselves and they have to quit!

It's not for everyone, think more before you choose.

You may guess now that I am not working as a paramedic right now, it's true, because they are looking for experienced people only. you need at least 1 yr of experience in 911 system or they won't even look at your application. Unfortunately for me, I need to plan and move on to something else. but I can tell you this. I would trade nothing for my paramedic experiences, it nurtured me ~ and has made my decision evern stronger in becoming a nurse! I'm not a good student sometimes, and even had a slate of F's in three semesters consecutively while I was a student in college, but I still managed to finish both a college degree and a EMT-P certificate. I am still having faith to get into nursing school, but just like others are saying to me, it won't be easy. Actually, nothing comes easy~ :)

mrgaylordfocker · Apr 6, 2011

I was in the same position as you and even now I sometimes find myself reconsidering and wanting to go the paramedic route. As of now i'm set to transfer and start nursing school in the fall. I'm not sure where you live or how it works where you live, but in california I've heard from a bunch of people that if you have your RN license, you can take what they call a "Paramedic challenge" where you basically just take a test and you can get your EMT-P.

I worked for ~6 months as an EMT and while most calls were dialysis runs or hospital discharges, the little taste of the 911 calls we got were exciting and I enjoyed it, however I felt like I could make a better living as a nurse. I definately want to do something in emergency medicine which is why my true goal is to work in the ER as a trauma nurse, but i'm taking that day by day.

I feel the good thing here is that if I ever do have a change of heart, i'm a test away from finding myself in a pre-hospital setting, with more knowledge in my pocket.

But check it out, they probably have the same "challenge" or something similar if you are from somewhere other than cali.

cccormier · Apr 6, 2011

I would suggest to only take paramedic if you are passionate enough and may actually want to use the certification and work as one someday. Besides, you may not find good work as a paramedic for a while... (depending on where you are, it can take months or more to find anything). You also have to consider your financial situation and if taking both courses will give you more debt than you anticipate or can handle.

I've decided to take "time off" after high school, and only went back to school to pursue Nursing 6 years later down the road.

And for me personally, it was the best thing I could have done because I had lots of time to contemplate my options and confirm that Nursing was the road I wanted to take. Waiting a year or two might do you well if you are torn between professions. :)

Also, I think that if you're "smart" enough for paramedic, you'll do well in nursing too. Paramedic students have it as tough as nurses (with the course-load anyways) and I'm sure there is more stress and pressure to work as one (since you'd be seeing people when they are at their most vulnerable, in pain... and not to mention lots of deaths and serious injury at the scene). It's certainly not an easy job! :icon_roll

Mentalageis16 · Apr 6, 2011

I would suggest to only take paramedic if you are passionate enough and may actually want to use the certification and work as one someday. Besides, you may not find good work as a paramedic for a while... (depending on where you are, it can take months or more to find anything). You also have to consider your financial situation and if taking both courses will give you more debt than you anticipate or can handle.
I've decided to take "time off" after high school, and only went back to school to pursue Nursing 6 years later down the road.
And for me personally, it was the best thing I could have done because I had lots of time to contemplate my options and confirm that Nursing was the road I wanted to take. Waiting a year or two might do you well if you are torn between professions. :)
Also, I think that if you're "smart" enough for paramedic, you'll do well in nursing too. Paramedic students have it as tough as nurses (with the course-load anyways) and I'm sure there is more stress and pressure to work as one (since you'd be seeing people when they are at their most vulnerable, in pain... and not to mention lots of deaths and serious injury at the scene). It's certainly not an easy job! :icon_roll

:yeah: you said it better than me. I remembered on my very second rotation on ALS, I got a call to a man who hang himself in the basement; it was pitch dark down there, we were using flash lights to check him. I wasn't prepared enough for that so what I saw was....!#$#%@$#$%#$ God bless me for not having nightmare from time to time about him.