EMT6530

I'm sure this question has been asked a bunch of times but here goes. I am planning to take my test in Jan/Feb. basically as soon as I get approved. I am deciding on a few books and wanted your input. Saunder's Questions Bank Saunder's Med/Surg Review Exam Cram Lippincott etc... I've always liked the layout of Exam Cram but I heard some bad things about it. What is your take? I only want books not interested in prep classes. Thanks!

I have the same concerns about WGU. Also keep in mind that because WGU requires a "B" to pass a course this also means that your overall GPA will automatically be a 3.0. It can't be higher and it can't be lower if you pass the entire program. For that may struggle to maintain a B average this can be a good thing. However, I am worried that NP or CRNA program I am looking into for the future may want a for example 3.4 GPA, does this mean that I am ineligible for those programs? Just something to consider. Please correct me if I am incorrect about the 3.0 GPA issue.

I think I am going through the same dilemma that you went through. I graduate my RN ADN program this Dec. and I start my BSN program in March. I am/was planning to do it through WGU (i'm sure you've seen the ads on this page) but they work on a pass/fail system so my GPA can only be 3.0 (no higher/no lower) when I pass the program. I was worried that CRNA programs would not consider this competitive enough, I live in California with only 2 school in SoCal. I'm not totally against moving out of state for school, but Acute Critical Care Nurse Specialist is also a consideration with the same worries about the 3.0 GPA.

Ya that was the biggest concern was the cost. I do enjoy the ambulance aspect, but I was mostly considering the bridge because I figured it would make me more valuable for flight nurse/medic transport later on.

I was an EMT-I for a few years with private and 911 transport companies. Anywhere from IFT's to medical emergencies to trauma. I would like to think that I have both mindsets. Just don't have the time to go to paramedic school separately while trying to further my RN career.

I have a job right out of school at my Hospice company (they will just promote me from LVN to RN). My current school is the Los Angeles County General Hospital so they do prefer their own graduates and hire ADNs even directly into ER and ICU. I am planning on starting my BSN at Western Governor's University for my BSN within a few months of my graduation as soon as I pass NCLEX. Flight is just a dream that I plan to pursue eventually just not now.

It is an RN to Paramedic back-bridge. You need an RN license, some experience, and about 20 classroom days with a bunch of 24 hour ride alongs with an emergency ambulance company. I was an EMT-I and really enjoyed the "in the field" aspect of healthcare. I am just an LPN at the moment, my EMT has since expired and I would need to get it back for the bridge.

The specific school and program I'm looking to do after WGU is the UCLA acute critical care nurse specialist. Just worried this won't be accepted.

I was told by the admissions person that if I didn't finish a course by then the end of a term then I could just continue it in my next term. You are saying it's automatically an F and I would have to start that class from the beginning next term? The F stays on my record?

I think I will have approximately 33 or 34 units as well. The people that completed 34 in just over 6 months is it possible to complete all 34 in the 6 months? Or was this already you guy going super fast?

I am interested in the UCLA RN to Paramedic back-bridge because of my interest in emergency and trauma care. Is this program worth it? It is nearly $10,000 but other than it just being "cool" to have a paramedic license will this necessarily open up any additional opportunities for me?

I will be graduating my RN ADN program in December. I want to know what are some important certifications or licenses that I should get immediately or be aiming for? I will of course be getting my ACLS and PALS as soon as possible to get a hospital job. I was also interested in CCRN, I know this requires 1750 hours of acute care so I will try getting this after my first year of work. I am aiming for emergency room and/or ICU nursing. Possibly also critical care transports with ambulances/flight. Any suggestions?

Hello, I am currently an LVN at the LA County College of Nursing and Allied Health. I will graduate with my RN ADN by the end of December. I am currently looking into Western Governor's University (WGU). This would be an online program entirely with the ability to take as many or as little classes in 6 month chunks of time. I am aiming to finish my BSN in 6 months-1 year. I am aiming for Acute Critical Care Nurse Specialist as an end-goal (question #2). 1) I want to know if anybody has experience with this school and what you thought of it. 2) Has anybody had issues getting hired or accepted into higher education (MSN/specialty programs) programs because this was an online degree? 3) Is it possible to finish the BSN in 6 months?

the steps from LPN/LVN to NP are as follows 1. LPN license 2. RN ADN 3. BSN 4. MSN 5. NP cert

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I am about 7 months into a 16 month LVN program and my biggest problem at the moment is boredom...it seems that my program is going by SO SLOWLY!!! I am currently attending LVN school 4 days a week and taking usually 3 days of RN pre-reqs at night along with some online pre-reqs when they are available. I also work as an EMT on the weekends with either one 24 hr. shift or a 48 hr. shift. I am the type of person that needs to have A LOT going on to keep my sanity. I have no problems with this workload and at the moment I'm the valedictorian at my LVN school. I feel that if I don't keep busy then I will become complacent and my overall work will suffer. Plus by keeping busy it seems to make the time pass by faster. I guess what I am asking is, what does everybody else do to help their program seem not so long and unbearable?! Thanks for any responses.

@gelgel By watch the monitors and read the waves do u mean when the big flashing light and alarm goes off u go get a nurse? And you tell them how many pvcs it's throwing cause the monitor spells it out for u?

I have been on a tele floor and I myself have never seen a CNA by themselves go and hook a patient up to an EKG and bring the results back to the RN. I don't mean to insult CNA's and I even stated that they are an important part of the medical field but from my point of view their importance is because they free up the RN's time to do the more important things. I often go to major hospitals such as county USC, UCLA med. center, huntington memorial, long beach memorial and I have never seen a CNA do more than change a bed.

Go be an EMT!!! As the previous posters have already said the CMA position is more for private Dr.'s offices and won't get you a job in the ER for instance. The CNA position won't either...and since you are looking to obviously move beyond these entry level jobs you should really be looking into a job that can get you more medical experience. Although CNA's are an important part of the medical staff in today's hospital hierarchy they are usually left with the job of making beds, toileting patients, and if lucky (in a hospital at least) getting vital signs. Hospitals usually have sicker patients than nursing homes and as such do not trust the CNA to do anymore than that. On the other hand I am an EMT and in nursing school...I've worked for AMR, McCormick, and currently I am at a private ambulance company (better pay). The EMT job gives u the independence to make critical calls in the field, when you alone are the one that decides what to do (as long as its within your scope of practice of course). For instance, it is always the attendants call whether or not to go code 3 (lights and sirens) to a hospital. You can also land jobs in the ER as Emergency Room Techs. in these positions you will mostly be taking vitals, hooking patients up to 3, 5, and even 12 lead EKGS (something that CMA may get to do but doubt it, and something that CNAs couldn't comprehend), and a lot more because there is always a doctor within 50 feet to jump in if anything goes wrong. Because of that they give EMT's a lot more freedom.

You did not state what state you are in but as far as the MAJORITY of schools out here in california the grades in your other classes DO NOT MATTER!!! The ADN RN schools at community colleges ONLY care about your GPA in the 3 major prereqs. Those are ANATOMY, PHYSIO, and MICRO. Usually they employ a lottery system so once u finish ur prereqs and cast ur ticket into that lottery it is just a matter of luck. LVN/LPN to RN bridge programs are usually easier to get into because of the shorter waiting list. The ONLY time those C's will hurt you is if you wanted to go STRAIGHT to an RN BSN at a UC or CSU (once again california examples) those schools will look at your GPA in the 3 major prereqs and the overall GPA separately. Hope this helped. Once again it could be completely different in your state, but as for mine this is how it is.