mattwilson

We have quite a few paramedics working in our ER (50,000-60,000 visits per year). Usually we have two nurses per pod (6 rooms per pod) but one of those spots may be filled by a paramedic. Our dept only hires paramedics with a few years expierence and no new medics. They can do pretty much everything I do as a nurse. They can be primary on anything that isnt an "alert" patient (stroke alert, STEMI alert, Trauma alert, ect.), or a patient that gets conscious sedation or are receiving blood. They also need a nurses signature on all discharge instructions and admission paperwork. They have been a great help in the ER and dont take the place of nurses but definetly should get paid more for doing almost the same job. They work the triage desk as well.

Paramedics do a lot of the triage at our ER. We see approx 160-200 patients per day and when we have two triages going theres a good chance at least one is a paramedic. About 2 years ago we started hiring paramedics in the ER. They can do pretty much everything the nurse can except be primary on a pt receiving blood, discharge, ect. they can get out and give all meds the nurse can, they can intubate if there isnt a resident or med student before them. Got a little off topic but Paramedics do great at triage.

i had been a national register paramedic for 2 years before i started in on a BSN. i think it has been a huge advantage in school. im way ahead in a lot of classes. theres definitely a difference between the paramedic and basic students in nursing school. since you're young i would recommend doing the paramedic and then going to nursing school. i dont know of a job that you could use both other than flight transport which is my goal someday. i work in an ER as a paramedic where i can use all my skills now while going through the BSN and its really helping. i think it would be a huge advantage as an ER nurse over those that havent had field expierence.

Hi im a paramedic(NREMT-P) working on a nursing degree. im only in my second year of a BSN and dont start clinicals till next year. im wondering if other paramedics that have become nurses or paramedics who are going through nursing clinicals now are have felt or are feeling frustrated in only being able to watch nurses doing skills that we have done for years i.e. IV's, giving meds, intubating, ACLS stuff, etc.. im also wondering if preceptors let you do any of those things, other than intubations, early on in clinicals. just curious. thanks