RN to EMT or Paramedic

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I am a recently retired Navy perioperative nurse in Texas. I'd like to voluteer as an ENT or paramedic. I've never officially been either.

Has anyone made this happen and how does one go about it in the shortest time w/o having to take redundant training?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Let me transfer this to the General Nursing forum.

Much will depend on your state. I live in IL where we have a pre-hospital RN license which allows RNs with ER experience to take a 16 hour class, do some intubations, ride time and then you are allowed to run pre-hospital calls.

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I can't say much for Texas, however, in Colorado it's EMT Basic first. They do have a RN to Paramedic course, however, you do have to have the EMT-B first.

I say GO FOR IT! Though, I am biased, as I was a Paramedic, let that go while I obtained my LPN.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Texas is now a National Registry state. EMT-Basic is the lowest level that I'm aware of, although in the past, ECAs could step foot on an ambulance and this level has remained grandfathered in as far as the state is concerned. I don't think ECA is even an option anymore... not 100% sure on that though.

Anyway, you would need to take the EMT-Basic course as your first step. In our local community college, this is a one semester class that runs about three hours, three times a week with occasional one-day requirements such as vehicle extrication at the fire training grounds, ropes course, etc. After successfully completing the required classroom hours and clinical times/skills at the hospital and on the ambulance, you are eligible to take the NREMT skills test, and then the computerized cognitive exam. The state itself takes about another 6 weeks or so to process your information after passing the NREMT exam. Sometimes less, sometime more.

I have several friends (RNs in the ED) who were working on their paramedic certifications in order to fly. We have a very good flight service that prefers Paramedic/RN dual licensures, and jobs are hard to get with them without it. These nurses were required to attend the courses just like any other student, although hospital clinical hours were addressed based on their employment (don't know if this was "allowed"... I didn't want to ask, lol!). However, the ambulance field hours were not negotiable, nor the time/tests in the classroom setting even though a lot of material was redundant for the nurses.

The EMT students had a lot to learn from the RNs who were students. I know the nurses were kinda uncomfortable at first (some were preceptors to EMT students in the past, lol!), but did admit to learning quite a bit in our messed-up EMS world as well. Vehicles never crash in a way for an easy extrication, IVs can be started upside-down, CPR in a hoarder's home is a world of fun, you have less then a second to recognize a crime scene (and not disturb potential evidence), and the most memorable syncopal episodes will occur between the tight quarters of the toilet and the tub.

Anyway, hope it helps some. Sorry that I'm not aware of any faster ways, but I know there's a requirement on hours and skills proficiency that must be demonstrated.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

your best bet is to contact your state office of emergency services. In my state (NJ) i only had to take a review type class (16 hrs or so) then take the certification exam. I am pretty sure i took the national exam, so if it's a national standard, i can;t see why you'd have to take a drawn out course.

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Thank you all very much for the responses. And what I have to look forward too Aliakey :)

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My brother is taking the basic EMT course through a hospital. It's five months long. :) I would definitely become a paramedic if I wasn't so small and unable to lift much! Lol

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