Paramedic School before i start my BSN?

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Cardiology.

I am awaiting my admissions decisions for the fall 2016 nursing. What do you think of completing the didactic portion of Medic school before I start in fall, and doing one clinical rotation a week while in nursing school? The medic school stated that they would work around my schedule.

The class meets two days a week from 9:00-6:00

My second option is if I don't get accepted into any nursing programs I will just do the medic school all the way through.

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Specializes in Emergency Department, ICU.

What do you want to do? Do you want to be a medic first or a nurse first? Have you weighed the pros and cons of each?

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I wouldn't do both at the same time.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

I would not even attempt both of those at the same time!! From someone who has done both (not at the same time), you will fail one and it will be a total waste of time and money! Pick one to do first and go with it!

Annie

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Specializes in Emergency Department, ICU.
I would not even attempt both of those at the same time!! From someone who has done both (not at the same time), you will fail one and it will be a total waste of time and money! Pick one to do first and go with it!

Annie

I completely agree with Annie. Medic school is no joke, and neither is nursing school. I have done both, but I would have never done both at the same time.

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I completely agree with Annie. Medic school is no joke, and neither is nursing school. I have done both, but I would have never done both at the same time.

3rd as someone that has done both (separately) and don't recommend them both at same time.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Cardiology.

Thank you all for your input, it is much appreciated. I would become a paramedic just to do it, ive always wanted to better understand emergency medicine and the critical thinking skills from being a paramedic are amazing (from what ive heard). My long term goal is to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

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Thank you all for your input, it is much appreciated. I would become a paramedic just to do it, ive always wanted to better understand emergency medicine and the critical thinking skills from being a paramedic are amazing (from what ive heard). My long term goal is to become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

If advanced practice is your goal, why even consider paramedic school now that you're in nursing school? Get your BSN and start working toward that. Seems to me that directing time and money toward paramedic school is a side track that won't pay dividends in the long run.

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I always say, the more you can do now, the better. You know yourself and what you're capable of. If you can imagine looking back and regret not doing it, go ahead and try. You can end up in debt. You can fail one of the two programs. But, you've got a finite amount of time to achieve the goals you have for yourself. Might as well set those goals as high as excites you.

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Id say do it only if there is minimal overlap between medic school and nursing school. You found a schooling willing to work around your schedule? Thats gold! I got my emt basic cert, worked full time in the icu and part time running 911 while in an on campus bsn program without too much headache. It can be done. It will make you a better provider...period.

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If you found a Paramedic school to work around your schedule chances are it is a medic mill which loves a student to sign a huge loan over to them. Whatever promises they make are subject to change to meet their own objectives and not yours.

What makes you think the "critical thinking skills" you get in Paramedic school are better than actually working in a Critical Care Unit where you will apply critical thinking skills every day on several patients for many hours at a time?

If the Socal in your name stands for Southern California, you might be greatly disappointed in the "critical thinking" skills of Paramedics in that area which is mostly fire based EMS. I have nothing against fire based EMS but Southern California isn't exactly the role model for greatness and the whole state has a very limited scope of practice for Paramedics. If you want to go to Paramedic school you might consider relocating to a more progressive state. But, if you do decide to stay in California, the Paramedic certificate is not that hard to get since it is required of almost every firefighter there regardless of interest in EMS. If the school is willing to work with you, chances are they are used to getting their students to pass a test and very little more. At least stick to a community college for a Paramedic cert.

What is a Hemodynamic Cardiopulmonary Tech? Is that like a Respiratory Therapist but without the degree or certification? What do you do?

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