RN with EMS experience only

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 20, 2009

I did it, as have many. I also worked in an ER for nearly four years, and learned tons from my RN coworkers. It might do well for your comfort level to look for a nurse extern position, or find a hospital with a good new grad fellowship/orientation. Or see if you can get hooked up with an RN mentor for shadowing. Good luck!!

ivanh3 · Jan 20, 2009

I am a paramedic that went on to become a nurse. I have known many to do so. It is a double edged sword. I also worked as an ER tech to help acclimate me to the "intra" hospital environment. It was a good move. I recommend it highly for two reasons. As a nursing student you will be learning about nursing and the hospital environment, and as a paramedic you can observe some of the less than special care that emts/paramedics sometimes give their patients. This will make you a better pre hospital paramedic. I was able learn many of the hands on skills I was not taught in paramedic school (although many paramedic programs are teaching now like NG tube, foleys, etc).

What is nice about having the medic background is that during your new grad phase you will be able to focus on the important stuff (time management, patient flow, hospital stuff) and not have to worry about things like IV starts, EKGs, recognizing a sick patient, just plain talking to patients/families without the stage fright, etc. It is quite an advantage. Other new grads don't have that knowledge which some medics take for granted. Hey its what we do right?

Now the other side. I have seen more than one medic either fall short or become unpopular because they could not let go of that "pre-hospital, crisis cowboy, severed head re-attaching" arrogance that some medics have. You know what I am talking about. It was a great way to meet people in a bar , but it doesn't fly in the hospital. You have to carry yourself with some humility. People in the hospital don't want to hear about all of the cor zeros you ran, all the patients you intubated, and all of the GSWs you handled without doctors orders. They really don't.

In any case, I see it as good thing, and like everything else, it comes down to attitude.

Hope this helps,

Ivan

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 20, 2009

You have to carry yourself with some humility. People in the hospital don't want to hear about all of the cor zeros you ran, all the patients you intubated, and all of the GSWs you handled without doctors orders. They really don't.

Ah, yes ... a very wise friend told me a week before I went to my CPNE, "Put that paramedic pride aside and grovel, baby, grovel!"

You were right!

ncmedic1983 · Jan 22, 2009

After 25 years as a paramedic, I am going to start the EC program...the nights are getting too tough to handle....does anyone know if you can "test" out of the LVN or CNA programs in NC and then complete an LVN to RN program??? Would that be a smarter or more "cost effective" way of completing the RN??

anniemm · Jan 22, 2009

You can test out on CNA program in NC but not the LVN. Call any of the community colleges for the info on CNA testing. As for the expense it depends on how long it will take you to finish the program through EC. I can't comment on the "smarter" portion because I went through EC only. That is why I wonder if there is an advantage to traditional schools for the clinical component of nursing. I know it is do-able but it is hard to find places to gain experience with things like peritoneal dialysis and wound vacs. if you are in a rural area.

Where in NC are you at?

ncmedic1983 · Jan 22, 2009

thanks for the info...I live in Sampson Co. (about an hour from Fayetteville or Wilmington), my challenge (like many) is that I need to continue working on the paramedic truck and I also teach as well. That doesn't leave much time for "traditional" schools, which is why I am looking at EC

anniemm · Jan 22, 2009

I understand completely. I taught an I/P class while I was going through the program. Needless to say the nursing classes were put on hold. I'm in Pasquotank county, Elizabeth City to be exact and our EMS service didn't have a night shift when I started nursing.

ladymedik · Feb 1, 2009

I agree with most of what is said. I have been in EMS for 15 years, then when I decided to be a nurse, left the truck and went into the ER. EMS allows you to have good time mgt. skills, and also to keep you calm in some situations that stress nurses out. I totally agree with the point made to not "brag" about what you've seen and done. If someone asks, then so be it. But no one likes a "know-it-all", or to be told, "If you think that is bad......". I would not give up my extra experience for anything. I know in my heart that if a doctor is not close at hand, that I would be able to handle a situation that would be in the best interest of the patient.