Paramedic to RN

[IVPush33]

Im 42 and have been a Paramedic for about 13 years now, while previously an EMT. While I loved the prehospital patient care environment, there was something missing. A physical back injury 8 years ago has left me wondering if what I enjoyed doing is worth risking my health. I gave it some though and decided to change careers. I have decided to work towards my CNA by going back to school. One of our local colleges offers a Paramedic to RN progarm with an ADN degree. The program is roughly a year long and I am currently 2 month into it.

I must say it is a completely different way of thinking. While having the health care background, experience, and schooling has helped. The material itself is not difficult for me to grasp, its the decision making processes and Nursing diagnoses' that is tough.

otherwise, I am enjoying the program, and clinicals have really been great thus far. We are beginning OB, Peds and Psych in a few weeks, so I look forward to those as well.

Just wanted to introduce myself and say hi. If anyone has any suggestions, comments or opinions please feel free to reply.

Thanks

Rob

[green34]

I am a paramedic too but I'm going the traditional route. I couldn't understand the nursing diagnosis process for About three semesters. It clicked my 2n semester of clinicals. I still don't see the nursing process used much in the ER.

[IVPush33]

I hear you. Ive talked to a lot people in various hospitals around here and hardl anyone uses it.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I'd have to agree: the material is very easy for me to grasp. It's just the decision-making process and the NDx that threw me for a loop for a while. It really is a different way of thinking than I'm used to. Once you wrap your brain around the difference, the rest is probably relatively easy. The skills stuff is something I'm really not all that worried about because we do many of the same stuff as a medic, just with different purposes and longer-term goals in mind.

I definitely have to say that I'm really enjoying Nursing School. I'm also going the traditional route because there are only a couple P-RN bridge programs in California that the BRN accepts. All that P card does is save you about 10 weeks of class/clinicals. You still have a 6 week bridge class to do (and pass) to bypass that 1st semester. The traditional route also preserves some options for out of state employment later.

[green34]

The floors around here do use the nursing diagnoses but it's not the full sheet and it's more of selecting "problems" that the patient has.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Be careful with your vulnerable back!! CNAs have one of the highest rates of back injuries according to OSHA stats. Bedside nurses are not far behind. Don't let your coworkers use you for a human lifting device.