ParamedicGuy

Thanks to everyone who has posted for easing my mind a little bit. I know I can handle the heavy course work load from my recent/previous experience of going through a rigorous accelerated paramedic program. I'm very excited to get going again starting this July. Any other advice anyone can offer to me before applying in December would be great!! Thanks Much

try these RN to BSN programs... Jacksonville University http://www.jacksonvilleu.com/ Oakland University http://www2.oakland.edu/nursing/rnbsn.cfm Michigan State http://nursing.msu.edu/bsnreg_faq.asp

thanks for responding to my post... if that is the case with the classes not be viewed as complete then I will most likely spread out my classes over two semesters since I would still be waiting the same amount of time regardless of when I completed my classes. It seems to be common place for everyone to have a gap year between prereqs and the ADN program. Are you in the traditional 2 year program or the 18 month accelerated? If the 2 year, do you know any info about the accelerated program and how one is selected to be invited?

Hi Everyone, I am somewhat worried about my admission prospects for the 2009 ADN program at OCC. First of all let me start by telling you a little about my background. I have been a Paramedic/ACLS Certified for 6 months now working for a local EMS Company doing all 911 work. Concurrently (to date) I have been working as an ER Tech in the ER and as a CNA on the Pulmonary/Vent Unit for over a year at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, MI. So i feel i have at least a little health care experience under my belt. I am starting my pre reqs in the summer II semester at OCC, I'm taking: Humanities 1900, Sociology, Stress and Relaxation PER 1300, Nutrition and English Comp I. I plan on taking the rest of the pre reqs in the Fall: A&P I, A&P II, Micro (no lab), American Govt. and English Comp II. I already took intro to intro to psych and have some credits from my Paramedic program that may assist me: Medical Terminology, Medical First Responder, Bio 1530 So there you have it, i would cover my pre reqs by the 2009 application deadline (that being December 15th 2008). Do you think this is a realistic aspiration to accomplish given the time period alloted? Or do you think I should stretch it out over a FULL Fall and Winter semester and wait a year to get in the ADN program? Is anyone in a similar situation? Also - does anyone know why OCC chose to put the application deadline in the middle of the school year???!! That sets a lot of people up who would be easily finished with their pre reqs at the end of winter semester to now not be able to apply. --- just curious on this one. I plan on attending an information session in October at the Highland Lakes campus to gain answers to all of the additional questions i have about the program. Forgive me for rambling at all, there is just a storm of thoughts running through my head right now.:typing:banghead: Thanks Much! Brandon T. NREMT-P, CNA

Thanks Jess1983 i brought the issue being discussed on this forum about paramedics on units in my hospital to the nursing admin. and they love the idea and are considering piloting a program of having one medic on every unit functioning as a CNA with extra medic intervention ability - and the code team is a big one - waiting on the house officer to arive and an RT sometimes just takes to long when a medic could have allready intubated, and shocked the patient out of vfib. The pay scale has also been looked at and the medic/cna would be paid the same as a nurse tech at my hosp. which is more than any medic makes in the streets. Its around $18 an hour. Ill keep everyone posted.

In Michigan paramedics seem to have a very expansive scope of practice while working in the ER (at least in this one hospital system). They are able to push medications such as morphine, start critical drips such as cardizem, intubate patients, set up vents., do EKGS, administer breathing tx's, insert foleys, start IV's ect. It seems as if they are functioning more as a Nurse/RT then a medic. Granted they do these interventions in the field, but not usually in the ED. Do you think Is this because they are performing these duties via delegation from an RN or due to an expanded protocol basis from the Medical Director? My main question however is relative to using paramedics outside of the ER realm and integrating them into the pt. care team on medical surgical units in the hospital in a supportive role to the RN team. Meaning that they would function in essence similarly to a Nurse Tech with an expanded scope of practice allowing their skills to be used as a paramedic. Thus in turn allowing the RN work load to be lightened a bit, and letting the medic cover for Rx's, insulin, foley insertion, drsg. changes ect. Additionally they could prove to be a valuable asset on respiratory units with ventilator dependent patients - as medics are trained in vent initiation, use and maintenance as well as pt. trach care. Another situation that seems to really stick out is when a pt. codes on a unit: staff on the unit becomes short because most are assisting in the code. However, a medic would be able to alleviate this by working on the floors code team (ACLS cert.) and provide intervention in which they are trained based upon Dr. orders. Additionally medics are trained in detailed EKG interpretation on the defib./mont. What is your opinion on a hospital piloting the use of paramedics in this role in an acute care setting out of the traditional ER setting you find them in and on a med./surge. Unit? Of course they would not be there to step on anyones toes so to speak, but to help lighten the work load of the RN team. Paramedic Consolidates: Nurse Tech Nurse Assistant ER Tech EKG / Code Team Member Lab Draws Limited Respiratory duties upon delegation Limited RN/LPN duties upon delegation What do you think?