Paramedic to RN Bridge Program???

beachmedic · Feb 16, 2009

Hi

I graduated from the JSRCC program last year. That one was closed, due to lack of instructors. I believe the only game in town now for Para to RN is at JTCC. Try this link for more info. Good Luck!

http://www.jtcc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=402

reader23 · Mar 28, 2009

Hey,

I am currently a paramedic and just finishing my degree in nursing. I had researched the paramedic to RN programs prior to entering traditional nursing school. I am 100% grateful i choose not to do the bridge program. Although nursing requires unimaginebale time and dedication it is a investment that will only make you that much stronger in your nursing career. I know it is not probably what you wanted to read and i also wish there was a more desirable way to get your RN but i strongly recommend a second thought. Nursing school is really a challenge. I have been a medic for 5 years with a very strong, advanced service doing all the lastest and the most up to date prehospital care. We are affillated with a medical school that is one of the top in the US. I feel that nursing is a different profession granted some similarities but i find getting through the exams and the NCLEX require a learned critcal thinking thought process that no paramedic can obtain without starting from day 1 in nursing school when they start revealing the strategies. Where i am from they allow paramedics to go into the senior year of ADN programs like the LPN and they must have some success so maybe really ask a paramedic who choose that path. Ironically, i felt everything i really needed to know about nursing was in the first two semesters because it is all the fundementals. Just really think it out because nursing school is nothing you want to shortcut. Ultimately, i will forever respect paramedics for the job they do everyday, in comparison nursing is actually relaxing. good luck

beachmedic · Mar 29, 2009

Although I provided some program info for you, I didn't mean to imply that I thought Paramedic to RN Bridge Programs were a good idea. They can be a quicker way to your RN, but not better, in my opinion.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 30, 2009

No matter what path you choose to get to RN, a solid foundation in nursing fundamentals is absolutely key, as reader23 pointed out. I did not go to a traditional school, but I also have a lot of in-hospital experience, which has been invaluable in my transition from tech to RN. Is that to say that medics without in-hospital experience will not be successful? Absolutely not! But it sure as heck helped me.

funnski · May 15, 2009

After completing the bridge I would disagree with having to complete an entire course. They made us complete the last two semesters after the "bridge" course. Our class was made up of half LPN's and half medics. As medics we were far ahead of the others as the last two semesters were on critical care, our specialty. The hard part is trying to find work. As a "New grad" you have no experience, but as a 13+ year medic it is a huge cut in pay to start as a "New grad". I think in time it will be worth it, but right now I wonder. Oh by the way, all the medics scored over 1000 on the HESI exit exam something that they had never seen before at the college, the LPN's scored less than 900. As for the NCLEX 100% on the first try, LPN's 80% don't know what to say but those are the facts.

Lissa160 · Jun 3, 2009

The Hutchinson Community College ADN online paramedic-to-rn bridge program in Kansas is excellent with many students from out-of-state. Not very time intensive and only requires 1 year to complete, with only a total of 25 days in clinicals (these can be arranged near you if you can get the paperwork and find a MSN willing to precept you). Clinicals can be grouped together within a semester so you can go for multiple days in a row and get them knowcked out quick. We had great NCLEX pass rates and the total cost of the program was less than $5,000. Mostly paramedics (probably about 30 medics and 10 LPN's). I would highly recommend this to any medics out there wanting to transition. All prerequisite courses should be able to be done online through them as well, but I'm not entirely positive. I took one pre-req through them and it was super easy (at least for a me as a 10 yr paramedic with a BS in biology/psychology). The more experience you have on the road, the easier it will be, but keep in mind that nursing is nursing, not medicine. Almost all the medics struggled with the coursework and clinicals because the basic philosophy of the nursing pathway is so different from the fundamental pathway of medicine. As a medic, the fundamental medical knowledge should already be there, they just teach you to think like a nurse (more holistic and whole person nursing rather than medical and diagnostic treatment). :twocents:

I have to agree with funnski- the pay cut from a seasoned medic to a new grad is there, so keep that in mind, but that an RN is very valuable because it lends portability if you want to go further in school or change fields within nursing. Our medics also had a much easier time in the program than the LPN's did as well.

http://cms.hutchcc.edu/hcc/home.aspx?menu_id=84&head_id=1466&id=1480&ekmensel=c580fa7b_84_100_1480_2

badphish · Jun 19, 2009

I see no reason for a Medic to attend a standard 2 yr program, unless they think it suits them better. we have several PM-ADN bridge programs in our area, i can think of three off the top of my head. I start my bridge option in August, we were required to attend a basc\ic nursing class (CNA) this summer, i finish next week, and i agree that is a definite change in mindset from medic to nurse. we have had several medics i know complete their ADN in the last couple years and they all did well and passed the NCLEX. I have looked at the paycut and will probably work part time as a medic for a while. The course im taking alows me to keep my 24 on/48 off schedule so that is a definite plus. Its a lot of hard work and little to no freetime but so was medic school. i think the increased opportunities as a RN outweighs the negatives. just my opinion.

brett

parawannabe · Aug 1, 2009

I see no reason for a Medic to attend a standard 2 yr program, unless they think it suits them better. we have several PM-ADN bridge programs in our area, i can think of three off the top of my head. I start my bridge option in August, we were required to attend a basc\ic nursing class (CNA) this summer, i finish next week, and i agree that is a definite change in mindset from medic to nurse. we have had several medics i know complete their ADN in the last couple years and they all did well and passed the NCLEX. I have looked at the paycut and will probably work part time as a medic for a while. The course im taking alows me to keep my 24 on/48 off schedule so that is a definite plus. Its a lot of hard work and little to no freetime but so was medic school. i think the increased opportunities as a RN outweighs the negatives. just my opinion.
brett

Thank you brett for you opinion. I am new to this forum and I am attending a paramedic shake and bake course this fall. After that I plan on a bridge para to nurse program. I am 46 y/o and have been an emt for 8 years (volunteer only). I feel for me that I do not need the full 2 year meal deal of a college based paramedic course. I have an almost completed assoc. and don't feel the need for more college experience. I would like to get to the nitty gritty. I am well rounded enough with all of my work experience, management experience, dispatch experience, life experience etc. that I think the accelerated programs work better for me. My ultimate goal is to be a flight paramedic/nurse. I live in AK and there are opportunities for that here. I would like to complete my nursing degree through distance learning. I have been looking at excelsior college and have read the posts and warnings about that program with interest. Are you aware of a reputable, on line course for para to nurse out there? What is your opinion of my desire to fast track the education? Am I rushing things? I want to be good, just cut out all the bs and no offense to younger folks out there but I don't feel I need the same out of a program that someone who is 18 and just out of high school does.

badphish · Aug 4, 2009

Im not sure of any online Medic to RN programs, I think u r right on track there are 5 or people I know right now going thru the bridge program, i know 8 others that completed it, though 1 is still working as a medic only (i think he's a special case though , lol) 1 other that was in it, failed first semester and is now in the 2 year generic program. that is just in my little world. So i have to say that for Many Many medics it is a better option. Be advised that the majority of Nurses, and Nursing students have no idea what a paramedic does and can do. the hard parts seem to be digesting the 100s of pages of reading, and thinking and testing like a nurse. you have to leave your Medic hat at the door, and its probably a good idea to leave your stories there too.

peace out,

i have started my mandatory reading, class starts in 2 weeks and i have a thousand plus pages to read. :)

life is good

mill1640 · Oct 5, 2009

I need help with finding a Medic to RN bridge program in the Arlington, VA-Washington D.C. area. Any help?

mccluregw · Mar 5, 2010

K I am not on here to argue just trying to get some expert advice from anyone near Columbus Ohio.

I have been a medic for a while was a medic in the army and got my EMT-P after returning stateside From Grant. (Great Program by the way)

I heard about a Medic to RN bridge program from my CCEMTP instructor at Columbus state while taking the corse.

This is something that I am really interested in but I would like to find a good program that I can get a lot of clinical experience. I am a verry audiotoy and kinesthetic learner so online programs are out for me which to the majority of what I am finding. I want to do well in the class, and I want something to prepare me to be a good nurse.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Gregg