paramedic to rn bridge

[traceybiser]

I am planning to get my medic training this year and want to immediatly bridge to RN, a little confused on how it works completly on line. Isnt there any clinical time needed and is it an accredited licence? My goal is to finish the RN and move to Florida.

Thanks for any info.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

If you're talking about the course through Excelsior College (EC), there is a clinical competency exam at the end of all the nursing classes. Just be aware that there are some states with extra hours required for endorsement or direct licensure, and some states will not license EC grads, period -- this is because there is no clinical time concurrent with theory classes. You can read more about various state requirements here: State Board Requirements - excelsior.edu

I had been a paramedic for five years by the time I finished EC's program. I wouldn't necessarily recommend EC for non-experienced paramedics, but that's just my opinion, and everyone is different. Our paramedic training is often quite different than that received by other healthcare professionals (like LPNs), and I feel that experienced paramedics are best suited to making the often difficult transition from paramedic to RN via distance learning without traditional clinicals. Your mileage may vary; it also depends on the individual, as well as the medic program -- my paramedic education came with a solid background in A&P, pathophysiology, pharm, and a lot of in-hospital clinical rotations precepted by RNs.

Good luck with the rest of your medic program.

[reebokHCFR, MSN, EMT-P, APRN, NP]

my paramedic education came with...a lot of in-hospital clinical rotations precepted by RNs.

Despite this, many medics turn out ok after a while

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Despite this, many medics turn out ok after a while

True. LOL. I didn't appreciate all my hospital clinicals until much later! I was like, OMG, really people? I'm a paramedic student, just let me be on the medic unit!