Paramedic Vs Registered Nurse: knowledge

[EMEddie]

It seems that Most paramedics or at least many of the ones I have encountered feel they are more competent in knowledge and procedures when compared to RNs. I'm not trying to start a war here, but who do you think has more medical knowledge? I feel and think RNs do but why do some medics feel this way?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Also, a lot of people don't know the difference between a paramedic and an EMT. It's largely (though not 1:1) analogous to the difference between an RN and a CNA.

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I am not sure what background you have but yes they are both crucial in saving lives but nurses are better equipped to care for patients. Paramedics do not have the intellectual capacity to undergo this task. They only know how to drive a truck and charge the patient a lot of $$$$$ to transport them. I am a paramedic so I can say this. I changed my profession to RN to help patients and to treat them the right way.

Don't be so certain of this assessment. As posters above have stated, Paramedics do have the intellectual capacity and capability to care for patients. Often they're limited by a few things: their training, their EMS Medical Director, or the culture within the EMS service. All Paramedics are trained to a single minimal standard, just as Nurses are. It is after graduation and beginning their follow-on training that they get from wherever they work (both fields) that really can determine people's perceptions...

I'm an Sports Med-trained (Bachelor of Science for that) person that became a Paramedic and now I'm a Nurse. Trust me when I say that while Paramedic school and Nursing school were both difficult, because of the extremely rigorous training I got earlier, both were much easier on me than otherwise may have been.

For me, trauma and trauma pathophys is easy. My bread and butter, so to speak... from my sports med days.

[quixotic.dy]

I am not sure what background you have but yes they are both crucial in saving lives but nurses are better equipped to care for patients. Paramedics do not have the intellectual capacity to undergo this task. They only know how to drive a truck and charge the patient a lot of $$$$$ to transport them. I am a paramedic so I can say this. I changed my profession to RN to help patients and to treat them the right way.

Sounds to me like *you* only knew how to transport patients.

I'm offended at your attitude and also lack of knowledge of the scope-of-practice that many paramedics in the United States have. Maybe you didn't. Maybe you live in a state like California where a Medic's top skill is often starting an IV but I have a hard time believing that being able to perform a field cricotomy is just throwing people in a truck & charging lots of money. (That is a regular paramedic skill in Colorado). What about ventilation, giving drip meds, rapid sequence intubation, capnography, 12 lead EKG. These are just nothing right?

I sure hope you don't work in the ED with this attitude.

[tony51783]

I am expressing my opinions and talking from my own experience. By the way, I volunteered and worked in a fire department. I also learned RSI, capnography, 12 leads, EKGS, and etc. I have a different view on things and I still believe nurses know more. Being a paramedic has helped me understand nursing better but I still believe that nurses know more than paramedics. And by the way, I do not live in California, I live in Miami. And don't be offended by my comment cause I have every right to sat how I feel and say my experience. If you feel offended then I should also feel offended by you saying I have a lack of knowledge. I am sure your not a paramedic, I know I am. I am proud to be a nurse quixotic. I will always be proud. I have a lot of knowledge. I am not an idiot or some type of person who does know anything.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am expressing my opinions and talking from my own experience. By the way, I volunteered and worked in a fire department. I also learned RSI, capnography, 12 leads, EKGS, and etc. I have a different view on things and I still believe nurses know more. Being a paramedic has helped me understand nursing better but I still believe that nurses know more than paramedics. And by the way, I do not live in California, I live in Miami. And don't be offended by my comment cause I have every right to sat how I feel and say my experience. If you feel offended then I should also feel offended by you saying I have a lack of knowledge. I am sure your not a paramedic, I know I am. I am proud to be a nurse quixotic. I will always be proud. I have a lot of knowledge. I am not an idiot or some type of person who does know anything.

I am not so sure nurses know MORE...what they know is...different. Yes I have been a paramedic.

I have no doubt you are smart and have a lot of knowledge....quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary, impractical, or impracticable. impulsive and often rashly unpredictable ....might not be the best word to use especially since you are looking for a job. What you are trying to say might be misunderstood...a better word....adroit....clever or skillful in using the hands or mind.

[tony51783]

I am not an idiot so you don't have to throw big words at me. I am smart , humble , and I have inspired people in my class and I was recongized for it. I am honored to be a nurse and I will die for it . I had a horrible experience as a paramedic. It was one of the worst in my life and I regret it to this very day . Some of the things that I witnessed made me lose all respect for paramedics and firefighters . So I can say what I want to say . Nurses know more than paramedics hands down .

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I am not an idiot so you don't have to throw big words at me. I am smart , humble , and I have inspired people in my class and I was recongized for it. I am honored to be a nurse and I will die for it . I had a horrible experience as a paramedic. It was one of the worst in my life and I regret it to this very day . Some of the things that I witnessed made me lose all respect for paramedics and firefighters . So I can say what I want to say . Nurses know more than paramedics hands down .

Don't be so certain of that. Paramedics and Nurses are trained along different models and for different purposes. As a Paramedic and a Nurse, you should already be well aware of this.

Paramedics are specialists and the vast majority of their education is geared that way. I wouldn't expect a Paramedic to be able to do well on a Med/Surg floor because they not trained for it. However, I would expect that a new grad Paramedic would be able to run circles around a new grad RN in an emergency situation typically encountered in 911 service. Paramedics know a lot about a little.

RN's are generalists and the vast majority of their education is geared that way as well. I wouldn't expect that a new grad RN would do well in the 911 EMS service because they weren't trained for it. I would fully expect that a new grad RN would be able to run circles around a Paramedic if both were put on a Med/Surg floor with 4-5 patients each. RN's know a little about a lot.

I'm not saying that one can't do the role of the other... It's just that a Paramedic would probably need more time to get up to speed than an RN would when taking on a new role as the Paramedic has to build a new body of knowledge where the RN already has at least some knowledge and just has to add to it.

In my previous profession (Athletic Trainer) I can honestly and quite confidently say that neither an RN nor a Paramedic is adequately educated for that job right out of school. It would probably take an RN the better part of a year to become sufficiently educated in everything an athletic trainer does before being able to safely do the job. I'm not saying that an athletic trainer couldn't do a Nurse's or a Paramedic's job... it would take significant education for them too, but Paramedic would be an easier transition for them. They're very much specialists too, but a Bachelors is the minimum entry educational level required, so they're very well and broadly educated specialists.

I've done all three... so I'm well aware of the strengths and limitations of each as it pertains to new grads in each field.

Your experiences with those you learned and worked with as a Paramedic have very much colored your view of Paramedics and in not a good way. Had you been an RN and had been exposed to a similar atmosphere, you probably would have a similar view of Nursing.

[thenightnurse456]

I have friends that are paramedics who I went to university with as some of our classes (anatomy physiology) over lapped.

The professions are entirely different as is the education and approach.

The paramedics are educated in front line emergency triage, assessment and treatment. Stabilise and transport. The learning curve for my friends was steep! The course seemed very difficult. There is so much they had to learn.

A nurse is a balance of science and holistic approach to CARING for a patient as a whole as well as being an advocate and an educator. My course was also difficult as I'm sure most of you agree!

For me comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Or doctors to nurses ( for the narrow minded public who think all nurses wanted to be doctors but didn't get the grades).

We all need each other and cannot work without the other, I just wish we all recognised that and got along :)

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

I have friends that are paramedics who I went to university with as some of our classes (anatomy physiology) over lapped.

The professions are entirely different as is the education and approach.

The paramedics are educated in front line emergency triage, assessment and treatment. Stabilise and transport. The learning curve for my friends was steep! The course seemed very difficult. There is so much they had to learn.

A nurse is a balance of science and holistic approach to CARING for a patient as a whole as well as being an advocate and an educator. My course was also difficult as I'm sure most of you agree!

For me comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. Or doctors to nurses ( for the narrow minded public who think all nurses wanted to be doctors but didn't get the grades).

We all need each other and cannot work without the other, I just wish we all recognised that and got along :)

I just had to bold and enlarge that point... because it's very true.

[medicRNwannabe]

I was bored surfing the internet when I came across the forum. I know this is an old forum. I couldn't resist. I have been a paramedic for many years and just got accepted to nursing school. This fight of superiority makes me exhausted. A younger, gun-ho EMT-B would have stated "nurses suck and they get to change diapers. As an EMT-basic, I had a limited education that fit the profile of what I needed to perform the job. It was until I took the next step to paramedic that I learned how limited that education was. I spent two years preparing to be a paramedic. Those who claim to be a paramedic and to have limited intellect on education ("paramedics do not know anything"). I would have to say maybe you need more time in the classroom. I remember my teaching well. It was in-depth and explained my course of action. I learned the reasons behind my course of care, the actions of drugs, ectera. My job is to stabilize and provide competent care to my patient. Part of being a paramedic is giving a short-term care.

Nurses and paramedics are different in many aspects but the ultimate goal is the same which is to give the best care to the patient. Nurses are provided with a longer education and have a little more knowledge. Nurse focus on the person as a whole and long term care.

Different areas of focus that are equally as important in their own ways. Neither is superior over the other. Paramedics are not just ambulance drivers and nurses are not diaper changers”. Nurse and paramedics are under doctors' orders. Both can be independent. End rant. Sorry for rant.

[bball160]

Wow! Just saw this forum myself and thought i would put a little imput on this issue. I have been in EMS for about six years now (Still consider myself a rookie) and I have seen this debate time and time again. Now to see someone say paramedics are ignorant and lack a knowledge base in medicine is in my opinion, ignorant themselves. Nursing and paramedic medicine are completely different jobs. Medics focus on the short term as Nurses focus on the long term and definitive care. I would agree that nurses need to know more considering they spend alot more time with the patient but for you to disrespect the profession that you worked in irritates me. There are plenty of excellent paramedics that I have worked with that are incredibly smart and even know alot beyond their scope of practice. EMS is a noble profession and its people like you who give us a negative perception. Ok mini rant over That all being said, both professions are very important. Those of you who are nurses work your ass off and that I will always respect! I have learned alot from nurses and in the end it provides better patient care for both sides.

Cheers!

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

What do you mean "competent in knowledge and procedures"?

That may be the most general statement on this site.

Knowledge of what? Medications? Nursing standards? Chemo meds? Psych groups?

What "procedures"? Discharging a patient from an ICU? Hanging meds? IV Starts? Wound care?

Why do "some medics feel this way" What evidence do you have that "some medics feel this way"? What statitiscs do you have to show what percentage of medics "feel this way"? "it seems most" And this begs the larger question...who cares?