paramedic starting nursing school

[Josh-n-tn]

Hi all, I've read this forum for quite a while and finally decided to make an account and post. I'm finishing up my prereqs this semester at Roane State in Tn. Unless I just do something really stupid, I should get into the nursing program next fall. I plan on applying to LMU and Pellissippi also. I've been a paramedic for 5 years and have finally gotten wise enough to pursue nursing.

I would like some advice for nursing school. I do not plan on going into my classes and even mentioning that I am a medic. I've heard the horror stories of medics being called out in nursing classes. I'm not sure if that's because they have the "god" complex or because they are medics. I'll take all the advice I can get.

I anticipate having a hard time in clinicals due to not being allowed to do stuff. I've read instances where the nursing students were not allowed to take blood pressures or do anything really. Is this usually a case of them not being aggressive enough? I want to do everything that I'm allowed to do during clinicals, but don't want to be viewed as a know it all. I also don't plan on telling anyone that I'm a medic during clinicals.

I know there are many aspects about nursing that I am completely in the dark about, I chose to go a traditional program rather than online or accelerated because I want to learn everything the right way.

Thanks for all the great advice that I've gotten from allnurses and thanks in advance for your responses

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Welcome to the (nursing) tribe!

You're wise to keep your background on a 'need to know' basis rather than running the risk of negative consequences. I'm sure that, over time, your level of expertise will become apparent & that's OK. To paraphrase the words of The Greatest "It's not bragging if you can do it".

Don't pay any attention to the horror stories - those folks are only trying to intimidate you &/or enhance their own egos. Basically, in the clinical environment - you are not supposed to do anything until your clinical instructor has evaluated your competency & given you permission to do it without his/her immediate supervision. You will be practicing skills in a sim lab before going to clinicals .... "checking off" on that skill. Afterward, you are allowed to perform the skill in the clinical area with a 'real' patient. Sometimes, there will be skills that require you to demonstrate in skills lab AND demonstrate with a patient under supervision of your instructor or a preceptor before you're allowed to do it by yourself. When in doubt, just ask. If you're unsure, contact your instructor and ask.

Wishing you the best of luck on your nursing education pathway.

[AlmostANurse321]

Best advice is to remember that the exams are based on what the teacher told you to know, not what you learned in the outside world. I've seen people with medical backgrounds fail nursing courses, because they got hung up on the right way to do it in their previous career.

Also, remember that as a nursing student and former paramedic your knowledge far exceeds your scope of practice during clinicals. You can do something that is entirely appropriate as a paramedic but is inappropriate for a nursing student.

[Josh-n-tn]

yea, that's something that concerns me. I know there is a brand new way of doing things that I'm going to have to learn. There is so much to the nursing side of things that they just don't teach paramedics. I think the mindset is going to be a hard thing. Changing from treating symptoms/conditions to treating the "whole patient" will be a challenge I'm sure. I know that as a nurse I'll still be doing treatments, but there's a whole new aspect to everything.