Regarding paramedics in ER..why are they paid so terribly ?

Medic173 · Sep 14, 2005

In the ER I work at as a Medic we are paid off of the same Pay Scale as the Nurses. We have the same job desription, and carry our own license so they pay us exactly the same as them. I get paid the same being a 8 yr Medic as a 8 yr Nurse. It is roughly in the $30 hour range before shift diffs.

flkeyslpn · Sep 14, 2005

In the ER I work at as a Medic we are paid off of the same Pay Scale as the Nurses. We have the same job desription, and carry our own license so they pay us exactly the same as them. I get paid the same being a 8 yr Medic as a 8 yr Nurse. It is roughly in the $30 hour range before shift diffs.

I work as an LPN in our ER & make no where near what a RN would make. What state do you work in?

Jen2 · Sep 15, 2005

My hospital does not hire medics or EMT's in the ED. We have RN's, LPN's (just started hiring LPN's last year), and CA's

edogs334 · Sep 15, 2005

I am an EMT-Basic in MA and am also a recent college grad. Although I've wanted to become a paramedic for a very long time, I am working towards getting a nursing degree first, not only because of the pay difference, but also because of the vastly better mobility I will have once I get my RN license and degree.

Here's a RELATIVELY short version of my theory on why medics aren't paid as much as nurses. I think that there are a few main reasons for this discrepency. First, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (as an occupational field) simply hasn't been around as long as nursing has. Nursing is a true profession and is much more established compared with EMS. The medical establishment (in many parts of the US) still views EMS as a vocation and not a true profession.

The main reason (in my opinion) why EMS is still considered a vocation by the

medical establishment is that, while medics have a lot of responsibility and can do a lot of "doctor" skills (intubation, IV's, drug pushes, cardiac stuff, etc), they are still, for the most part, certified, and practice under the license of a doctor. RN's, as far as my understanding goes, practice under their own license. Moreover, even though medics go through more specialized emergency medical training than nurses do (that's what I've heard), they complete comparitively fewer total education hours. Although some medics have EMS AAS's and even BS's, having an degree in EMS is the exception and not the rule. Most nurses I've met have at least an associates degree, if not a BSN. If having at least at least an AA in EMS was the rule (with all the basic science classes req'd), than I think that medics could have more ammo in their fight for more pay.

Third, I'm quite sure that the majority of people in EMS use the job as a stepping stone to something else (such as nursing, radiography, RRT or even med school). The fact is, the majority of people don't want to make a career out of a job in which they have to struggle to raise a family on low pay while working 50+ hours a week. Moreover, the career options in EMS are limited, as far as direct-care positions go. Most people who want to advance in EMS end up becoming supervisors and managers. The exceptions are EMS folks who get on higher-paying fire depts or municipal services. I myself am one of the "stepping stone" people; I don't plan on making a full-time career out of EMS. I'd still like to get my medic cert someday, though, and do it part-time while practicing as an RN full-time.

maryk650 · Sep 15, 2005

In the ER I work at as a Medic we are paid off of the same Pay Scale as the Nurses. We have the same job desription, and carry our own license so they pay us exactly the same as them. I get paid the same being a 8 yr Medic as a 8 yr Nurse. It is roughly in the $30 hour range before shift diffs.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

What state do you work in? I've worked in sveral states and the paramedics do not make anywhere near what you make. Some of them have even pursued careers as RNs but could not handle the pace the nurse has to keep up. They ended up working as medics and prn as a RN.

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2005

Tell me about their education requirements, etc.I know the pay is terrible (at least around here) and they work so hard and are responsible for SO much. I don't understand why the pay discrepancy ?

Generally speaking, medics aren't paid very well in the ER or out of the ER. Many go on to do other things, nursing being one of them, because outside of larger city services it's next to impossible to make a living/raise a family on what medics make.

Medic 173 ... your situation sounds very unusual. If RNs and EMT-Ps in your facility truly have the same job description ... what would be the point? :confused: I've worked in 2 different ERs where paramedics had slightly differing roles, but at neither did they function as nurses. Perhaps you could clarify.

taidan · Sep 16, 2005

actually from what i understand the new DOT curricula requires a paramedic to have atleast an AA degree.

Regarding licenses, a nurse has their own license because they require doctors order to push drugs. If they had standing orders (like paramedics do) to push drugs, intubate etc. they would require a license under a physician. You are comparing apples and oranges.

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 16, 2005

There is an exact same thread about CNAs.

It's basic supply and demand. The hospitals would pay RNs 5 bucks an hour if they could.

There are more paramedics than there are RNs, at least relative to the need for paramedics vs. the need for RNs. It's not about how hard you work, or how valuable you are. It's really only a little bit about education.

Mostly, it's about at what price the hospital can minimally get away with paying you, yet still recruit you and keep you.

Fortunately for us nurses, that the supply and demand curve means that my pay has gone up drastically in the last 5 yrs. I can go to work in any of thousands of places, tomorrow. And because of that, if the hospital wants to keep me, they have to keep enticing me.

I wish I could say it's about respect and professionalism. It's not. That's why you'll never hear me complain about 'the shortage of nurses'. Bring it on.

~faith,

Timothy.

Medic173 · Sep 20, 2005

ERs are opening their eyes and letting Medics do everything that the Nurses do. (Like in the ER I work in). Are ER just Hired Paramedic Physician Extenders to work with the doctors to see Patients. They are going to see Pts, write orders, review results, suture, LPs and Rx Scripts to name a few things. They are going to replace the PA and NP we have now. Wont that suck that the RNs will have to take orders from the Medics. Boy how times are changing. I just found out today that I got this job. I cant wait to see the faces on the RNs. We are going to be starting at $50 hr.

mommatrauma, RN · Sep 20, 2005

ERs are opening their eyes and letting Medics do everything that the Nurses do. (Like in the ER I work in). Are ER just Hired Paramedic Physician Extenders to work with the doctors to see Patients. They are going to see Pts, write orders, review results, suture, LPs and Rx Scripts to name a few things. They are going to replace the PA and NP we have now. Wont that suck that the RNs will have to take orders from the Medics. Boy how times are changing. I just found out today that I got this job. I cant wait to see the faces on the RNs. We are going to be starting at $50 hr.

And I'm sure with a God complex like that you'll make a good name for yourself, good luck with the job...I'm glad the medics I work with actually work WITH the rest of the staff instead of trying to be better than it...It makes for better patient care.

...and since we're on the nursing topic, out of curiosity..your profile says you are a nursing student?? If being a medic pays so well where you are and its so much of a better job, why be a nurse?

mommatrauma, RN · Sep 20, 2005

actually from what i understand the new DOT curricula requires a paramedic to have atleast an AA degree.
Regarding licenses, a nurse has their own license because they require doctors order to push drugs. If they had standing orders (like paramedics do) to push drugs, intubate etc. they would require a license under a physician. You are comparing apples and oranges.

Just an FYI.."standing orders" are still doctors orders. And as a nurse in an Emergency Dept as well as a PHRN on the street or in the flight program I work in...I follow standing orders in combination with orders given on a case by case basis.