Paramedics in the ER

[okie4ever]

Do any of you use paramedics in your emergency departments? if so, are they allowed to triage, assess, discharge? Does the RN have to sign their charts?:redbeathe

[RNTOBE_1970]

They usually work as techs.

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

Have seen them used with excellent results. Great in codes! Charge nurse had to cosign the charts.

[LegzRN]

They're an extremely valuable resource. Much love goes out to my medics!

[GilaRRT]

Double post?

[GilaRRT]

I worked in an ER with full scope medics. No "mother may I nurse has to micromanage" environment. The medics were essentially taking on the role of a nurse. Anecdotally, it worked quite well for us.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Why not let them assess and triage? It's predominately what they're trained to do as long as it's lawful there.

ETA: As the poster below me mentioned, in my state paramedics are field providers. They do not work in hospitals just as nurses may not work as sole providers in the back of emergency ambulances here. The state recognizes their respective training as being suitable to their respective roles. Around here if you find a paramedic working in an ER he won't be using his paramedic license.

I've also never met a paramedic that wanted to work in the ER, and I say this having been a paramedic. Sure, many go on to become RNs rather easily, but once there they're RNs and not EMT-Ps and thus do not do needle decompressions, external jugular IVs, or the other sundry lonewolf paramedic skills while working nurse shifts.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

In my state their license stops at the door. Training is not the point; legal status matters. They work as techs in our ER - very valuable ones. Also, my state only allows RN's to assess, develop nursing care plan and plan the teaching. Even LVN's cannot do that, legally. People working outside their scope of practice is a good way to get sued.

[GilaRRT]

Why not let them assess and triage? It's predominately what they're trained to do.

Different kind of triage. START triage in the field is much different from triage in the hospital where resource allocation and utilisation is different. However, triage is not rocket science and I certainly do not think RN's have any special education that allows them to perform said triage better.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Different kind of triage. START triage in the field is much different from triage in the hospital where resource allocation and utilisation is different. However, triage is not rocket science and I certainly do not think RN's have any special education that allows them to perform said triage better.

I wasn't talking about START. When I went through school we weren't trained in START. I've only heard of that in the last five years or so even though a quick internet search says it was developed in 1983.

[diosa78]

Love, love, love our medics. If they are trained and competent in a skill, they are allowed to do it in our ER - thus they can do EJs, chest tube insertion, and intubate if it becomes necessary. They are a valuable resource. They cannot triage, discharge or do pt education. They are actually allowed to do more skills than us RNs in our ED.

[FF-PHRN]

In the local ERs around here they are utilized as techs and are greatly appreciately. They get a greater experience than just the field work. In my ED they do assess, triage and discharge. Paramedics in the ED are a great asset, but i may be biased since I work with paramedics as much or more than i do with nurses.