ImaEMT

I guess I can count myself as lucky that I haven't run into this tension you all refer to....or the EMT's being rude to patients or family. We are a rural community with 32 volunteer EMT's and I can tell you that each and everyone of us is dedicated and caring. I have never worked with one that has been rude to a patient. I have been the patient once myself ( MVA) and had only great care from the medics. Our LTC's are often severely understaffed with RN's. One facility only has 1 RN for each shift, with CNA's 9 no LPN's), and they call us frequently for ill residents. Yes, sometimes we roll our eyes when we get called for a patient who apparently has no symptoms ( and gets released from the ER an hour after admission). But, we understand that the singel RN has ALL these patients with no help, and if someone gets severly ill on her shift, she's SOL! Better to call us than to let it go. Our only problem has been with LTC that don't define code status clearly. Got called to a patient in a "full code". Arrive and find her sitting in a chair, talking and laughing. Vitals hadn't been done. No assessment by LPN/RN. We had assumed "full code" was an PNB...instead they meant she wasn't a DNR. I think that' s been cleared up now. I'm sorry for all of you with such bad experiences! We have very clearly defined roles in our ER and in our community. We have a lot of respect for eachother. Oftentimes, the RN will call one of us to do a hard IV start, or vice versa. As far as knowledge base goes....there is a big difference. EMT's are trained to save a life RIGHT NOW! RN's are trained to care for a patient long term...through the life span, in addition to acute skills. EMT's know how to properly assess, treat and stabalize a trauma patient IN THE FIELD. So different than in the ER where everything is dry and warm. Our ER RN's all atest that none of them would have a clue how to deal with a mass trauma in the field. That's our job. Good luck to you all. I hope your EMS systems get better Lisa

I just wanted to add that if your EMS providers run only basic EMT's, they will not be doing IV's at all. So the IV supplies are a good idea, even if it's just to put in a lock so it's available at the ER when the patient arrives. We had all the things mentioned in the other posts when I worked at a small rural clinic. We had 2 MI's and a seizure patient with a compromised airway in the 2 years I was there. We had all the meds, but no oral or nasal airway and of course, that was no good. I wouldn't go without a fullc rash cart. You never know if EMS is going to be delayed, of if your patient is going to circle the drain quicker than you'd thought. I can't believe any clinic would operate without one. Take Care Lisa

Hi Jackie, The deadline for summer is past, and all the spots are full. You may still be able to get in for the fall semester, which I believe starts in Sept? I would call the school and talk with Erin Kelly. She is wonderful and could help you with your application status. I think in order to get in for fall, you have to prearrange your clinical site, so maybe check on that to be sure. What lever EMT are you and where to you live? Feel free to pm me if you want. Lisa

HI, Thanks for the great responses. Amy, you sound WELL on your way! I think you'll save a bundle of $ on tuition between what you have to transfer, and your local college. I'm really hoping to do the same. Our local college is $46 a credit, which is comparable to ccconline, so I just may do ccconline for the convenience and do nutrition and the other stuff locally. I did talk to (Michelle I think) at financial aid, and she said they don't offer anything specific for online students. I filled out my FAFSA yesterday, online, and hope to hear back soon. I'm so afraid something is going to happen and I won't get enough money, or something will fall through. I did hear from my employer, who will pay a total of $6500 between employee tuition reimbursement, tuition of work program and a scholarship I should be eligable for. That at least pays for 2 clinical nursing classes! It sounds like you and I have most of our LPN requirements out of the way. I think I'm going to have to retake A&P because I had it 7 years ago and I don't know if it was up to the ADN level. Keep in touch! Can't wait to hear how everyone does with this program! Lisa

I'm wondering if you took any other classes above what was on the course list for each semester? I'm going to be doing Micro, Bio, and could also take nutrition locally starting in May, along with the first round of DCN classes. Do you know if DCN allows this? I'm thinking my gen eds like developmental psych and interpersonal com will tranfer from my previous degree,as well as pharmacology and hopefully the A&P's. Do they let us work ahead? If all transfers, I'm only left with nursing concepts, nursing lifespan 1 & 2 and personal concepts of the PN component to take. I did send an email to Erin Kelly about this. Also, do you know when after acceptance, DNC reveiws transcrips for trasfer, and when we are assigned an advisor? Do they wait until all the financial aid is in place before moving ahead? TIA Lisa

We should be sure to chat to keep up on how it's all going! Lisa :)

From what I've been reading and hearing alot from DCN and it's students, are that DCN is pretty agreeable to letting us do courses elsewhere as long as the content is similar. I'm already looking into doing Micro,chem, A&P 1-2, nutrition and a couple gen eds at another college ( locally for $75 a credit). I think the bulk of what I take at DCN will be the clincal courses. That should save alot of money! Plus, I've filled out 28 scholarship apps, and my hospital may sponsonor some of my tuition if I commit to a work agreement with them. Hope it works out! Dh said I can get a laptop! Who hoo! Now I just have to find one for a reasonable cost. Anyone know of a good source for reasonable laptops? Anyone currently using one for DCN?

I didn't do anything special. I just submited my app and I had written a letter on why I wanted to be accepted. I already have an AAS degree with a 3.8 GPA, so I think that might have helped. I bet you'll get in for fall. Don't give up hope. I already work for a hospital and they were very aggreable to letting me do the clinicals here. I think I'll have to do some clinicals at a larger hospital though, because we don't have a peds unit. I'm not real sure how I'll approach them...probably with the materials from DCN. Good Luck! Lisa

So, does that put those of us who are starting in May, and choose to work straight through the summer sessions, set to graduate May 2006? I thought if we did the summer session, grad would be Jan 2006. I plan to go straight through without stopping. Am also going to look into taking some classes at the local college as it's MUCH cheaper! Lisa

I just wanted to reply and state that the public does care who takes care of them. I am a CMA and have been for 8 years now, and there have been many instances in which patients have questioned my credentials...mostly because many people don't know what a CMA is/does. I have even had 2 times that patients have asked for an RN to give their injections, because they were more comfortable with an RN. I can admit that at first, I was offended by this, but now I have a different heart. As I have posted before, CMA's should be trainied by an accredited school, and they should be certified by the AAMA in order to work. I know this isn't the case. I work for a Mayo institution, and we have 3 "CMA's" on staff that are either unofficially trained or not certified, or both. I can tell you that it takes a lot of work to become recertified every 5 years...but it should be required. As well, we are often put into situations in which we are asked to use skills higher than our training permits...like Foley changes and giving some meds above our training ( allergy shots, etc). All of this, and the lack of respect for my profession have really driven home for me, that I need to be an RN. It's an absolute calling for me and I will never be satisfied if I"m not. Here is what you do to take action against misrepresentation or misutilization of CMA's in your office: contact the AAMA. http://www.aama.org They can assist in problems with certified individuals. Like already posted, there really is nothing to be done about the uncertified people. Take issue with your employer if nothing else. I am now on a counsel at the clinic where I work to help seperate the duties of the staff CMA's and RN's. I feel there needs to be a very clear line. Take care Lisa

I didn't realize that the summer spots were only for people with previouse degrees. I just found out I got in for May, and I do have an AAS degree already. I knew that there were only 20 spots, though, so I didn't figure I'd get in with all the applicants....but I was just lucky enough I guess. GOod luck to you all! I can't wait for us to share some DCN stories in the next few months! Lisa

I can't believe that after 6 years of being on the waiting list at my local college, I am FINALLY going to nursing school! I tried not to get my hopes up, but now I am so excited! I got my acceptance letter 2 days ago, and was afraid to open it. I figured with the large envelope, that I was probably accepted. Now, all I have to do is find out how to get some grants or schlorships. DH and I made a deal that I can do the program if I come up with $10,000 or over in free money. I already have $2000 from my emplyer...so $8000 to go! And I already have my clinical site ready and waiting for me! :balloons: Dh just rolls his eyes at me because I'm trying to plan how on earth I will do this program with 2 kids at home and 2 jobs! I'm already begging for a laptop computer!LOL Who else is starting in May? We will all be seeing eachother in MO in Jan 2005! How exciting! Doin' the happy dance! Lisa

We also have to remember that we are chosing to be in the profession that we are in. Once there, we can move around, go back to school, stay where we are at, etc. There should be respect across the professions, and I do have my own very strong feelings on this issue. However, teh bottom line is that there is a big difference between what CMA's and RN's do. Sometimes that line is muddled in a clinic setting, and ultimately, we all have to take responsibility for the tasks we perform....especially if it is out of our scope of practice. I'm going back to school because it's hard to stay put. I need to learn more and be more, for my own satisfaction. As much as I love what I do, I won't be able to obtain my goals if I don't go back to school. And, yes, some more respect for what I do would be good. I've fought hard for it, but the truth is that it's hard to change percepetions of the CMA profession. That's why you should always work hard, learn as much as you can, stay within your scope and represent yourself as a professional. Be a role model for the profession...it's the only way things may ever change! My 2 cents! Lisa

I'll be HOLDING my breath to hear wether or not I get in! This is where I'm hoping my 8 years of past expereince help me, but I know it may not. I just want to get started. If not this time, maybe I'll ahve to apply again. Keepin' fingers crossed... Lisa

After each clinical semester, you will have to go, as I posted above. I'm not sure if there are exceptions to this or not. :-) Lisa