Paramedic to RN

[cklake5]

I am so confused. As a Medic I always treated and gave credit to the ER side of patient care. Now that I am a nurse no one gives me any credit towards my years experience. Why is the healthcare field so divided? I get there is a difference between "medics" and RN's. My problem is the hospitals thinking that any and all of my experience as a medic is equivalent to a CNA! Please, Please introduce me to a CNA or an typical RN that can intubate, start an I.V or mange multiple victims in a ditch at 2 A.M. and I will gladly work on a med surge unit for a year with a smile on my face.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I think it largely comes from ignorance. Most nurses are never truly exposed to what paramedics do or what they know and that Nurses are also trained to think of non-physician and non-nurse personnel as "unlicensed assistive personnel" even if that person actually has a certificate or license and can do hands-on patient care. That results in nurses disregarding any experience delivering healthcare that's not as a nurse because it's not nursing delivery of healthcare. Paramedics do the same thing, just as you did. Nursing education is great, but the average RN isn't trained for field work.

If you add up all the years that I've been doing some form of patient care, as a student, volunteer, or paid status, it's right at about 15 years going into nursing school. Once I graduate, all that doesn't count for anything because it wasn't as a nurse.

In the field I originally went into, sports medicine, Nurses and Paramedics are both woefully under-prepared to function in that field without extensive education. It would probably take the better part of a year to bring either one up to speed because that field is that specialized and requires a minimum of a Bachelor's for entry to the field.

So, I very much completely experience the confusion too. In a couple months, I'm going to be a new grad RN with zero nursing experience who has a LOT of experience working with patients... just like you when you became an RN.

It's unfortunate, but as the saying goes: "It is what it is." Perhaps one day things will change.

[Guest219794]

You are working with idiots.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

As an ER RN, I have tremendous respect for what Paramedics bring to the table. It's true that I have little understanding of the challenges faced by Paramedics day in and day out, but in my mind, we're all on the same team- we just function a little differently. I treat all of the medics that come in to my ER with respect.

I am a little confused, though. Is your issue with other RNs who don't understand your background, or is it with the hospitals you've been applying for jobs with?

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

Hospital staff simply have little idea what we do in the field, or the difficulties we overcome. You just have to accept that. But, you should always take the time to try and educate people.

[CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA]

I know how you feel. I am currently working in an ER as a Paramedic. All the RN's that I work with have a lot of respect for the Medics that work in the ER and feel that we are under utilized. There are some that have no clue what goes on in the field. I really believe that all nursing schools should have a clinical rotation on the truck. In the ER we start IV's, draw blood, do EKG's, assist with patients, apply splints, and transport. We are not able to do assessments or provide any meds. The reason I came into the ER was to see the other side since I will be bridging to RN.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I know how you feel. I am currently working in an ER as a Paramedic. All the RN's that I work with have a lot of respect for the Medics that work in the ER and feel that we are under utilized.

In my state, paramedics can only practice as paramedics under the supervision of a state licensed EMS Supervising Physician, in the prehospital setting. When working in the hospital, paramedics are actually functioning as "techs", not paramedics, because they are not working under an EMS Supervising Physician. As such, their scope of practice is restricted only to functions which can be delegated to a tech in a hospital setting, which does not include assessment or medication administration.

In my experience, paramedics working as techs in the ED can sometimes have a low level of job satisfaction related to their restricted scope of practice.