Rn to medic

Published

Anyone here had any experience in challenging the paramedic exam as an RN in la county! Always been interested in being on both sides of the ER doors!

I know nothing about the NCLEX as I never took it, and my college knows what our scope of practice and activities are, so don't fuss yourself on our account ;)

Aaahhh, Canadian.

I do know there are very, very few nurses on transport teams, including neonatal, in Canada since the Paramedics have much more advanced education and can do everything nurses can do in most provinces.

The question was in the US and you really can not speak for what nurses can or can not do here nor what our Paramedics can.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I bet your nursing board would love to get hold of this info if these nurses are doing this on the sly.
Seriously? On the sly? sigh. Not likely.

I/O's are common in the ED. Not the ICU. In the pedi population this is a skill that is utilized but as soon as another line can be established they are removed. You are right needle decompression is seldom a necessary in an adult ICU and we have the intensvist present so this isn't necessary....you will see this more in the pedi/neonate population. But nurses are not prohibited by the state they are limited by hospital policy.

NO bedside nurses do not do certain central lines. The do insert PICC lines and in some facilities they may do EJ's in the critical care areas of the RRT may insert these lines. Yes.....nurses in some facilities insert art lines. Radially. Which is something paramedics do not do....even in the field. NO not all nurses are trained in this...these are for specialized areas only. ED ICU CTPACU NICU PICU....but these are highly specialized areas of the hospitals and these nurses are specially trained.

We are both specialized and trained individuals and should treat each other with respect and not disdain they you clearly seem to have towards nurses. Respect is a two way street.

But...is is your choice to make.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Aaahhh, Canadian.

I do know there are very, very few nurses on transport teams, including neonatal, in Canada since the Paramedics have much more advanced education and can do everything nurses can do in most provinces.

The question was in the US and you really can not speak for what nurses can or can not do here nor what our Paramedics can.

allnurses has members from all over the world. it is one of the things I like the best. I think we can all grow and learn for our peers from all over the world.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes.....nurses in some facilities insert art lines. Radially. Which is something paramedics do not do....even in the field. NO not all nurses are trained in this...these are for specialized areas only. ED ICU CTPACU NICU PICU....but these are highly specialized areas of the hospitals and these nurses are specially trained.

.

Again you are wrong. There is nothing that says a Paramedic cannot insert arterial lines since they are responsible for most flight and cct teams.

Your year old data of what a Paramedic is needs some serious updating.

A PICC is a central line but is rarely inserted in a emergent situation. Why would an RRT nurse take the time to do a PICC in an emergent situation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
allnurses has members from all over the world. it is one of the things I like the best. I think we can all grow and learn for our peers from all over the world.

There needs to be an understanding that an RN is one country might not be the same as one in another. The same for Paramedics.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
Aaahhh Canadian. I do know there are very, very few nurses on transport teams, including neonatal, in Canada since the Paramedics have much more advanced education and can do everything nurses can do in most provinces. The question was in the US and you really can not speak for what nurses can or can not do here nor what our Paramedics can.[/quote']

Aaahh, the pot and the kettle, you are a tad bit misinformed aboot us Canucks, but I won't hold it against you, and it doesn't invalidate your opinion, as much as I disagree with you. Anyhow, I'm out, I've said what I have to say.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Double standard as I thought I would find on a nurse forum. I guess you don't like being questioned by someone in a group nurses tend to look down upon as a lesser profession.

You think it is perfectly okay for a nurse to just challenge a test and then work as a Paramedic? Paramedics come out of school ready to start IVs, intubate, do central lines, EJs, work a code, do a cricothyrotomy, and decompress a chest. I don't know of any nursing school which allows a nursing student to intubate. According to this forum, most don't even get a chance to start an IV.

You don't want us around your high acuity patients until you need us to transport them to a center of higher care. Then we are great as long as we get what you don't want in your hospital out real fast.

Do you have no problem letting a new grad RN or a nursing home nurse work in your heart unit.

Nurses are not independent of anything unless they are nurse practitioners and even then they have to answer to a doctor.

ACLS and PALS do not give you independent practice either or the right to push drugs. It definitely does not allow you to intubate. Look at the first page of either of these text books and you will see this all clearly explained.

What is a 4 year bridge program and who would be stupid enough to go through one for a Paramedic certificate which is about 1000 hours to an Associates degree?

First...I did not say this....
And, don't forget- RNs also have an independent scope of practice with drugs. ACLS, PALS, and hospital protocols.
Just FYI...in answer to your post from another thread....I did not say this. Another member did.
Second I never indicated that a new grad with no training should be left alone in an ICU.

Double standard as I thought I would find on a nurse forum. I guess you don't like being questioned by someone in a group nurses tend to look down upon as a lesser profession.
Third....I never said I felt that a medic was a lesser profession...you did. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" Eleanor Roosevelt
Nurses are not independent of anything unless they are nurse practitioners and even then they have to answer to a doctor.
Well that is not entirely true. Some states are allowing independent practice of APRN and the number is increasing.

ACLS and PALS do not give you independent practice either or the right to push drugs.
Medics practice within physician relegated protocols. Most hospitals have stated in their policies that emergency drug may be administered by ACLS certified nurses only. Emergency drug administration is covered under ACLS protocols in all hospitals judged by the order "give as per the ACLS protocols".
You think it is perfectly okay for a nurse to just challenge a test and then work as a Paramedic?
If you LOOK at my post. I stated that nurse should take the medic training. It is a completely different scope all together.
While I think nurses should take the paramedic training
I am pro paramedic. I always have been. I am sorry you have experienced negativity from other nurses.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Where are RNs going to get practice in the real world to do intubation, crics, needle decompression and IOs enough to waltz up to an ambulance service with just a piece of paper saying they passed a test?

Afghanistan. :D Trust me...

As I said earlier, I was (still am) a paramedic, then became an RN. It's apples and oranges, but all fruity. But neither can really fill the other's role well without some edjumucation. Just my opinion.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

BR157,

You need to lose that chip on your shoulder. Lot of anger in your posts. And as stated above, medics work within the parameters of their medical director. Not saying critical thinking skills aren't needed, saying medics are not truly autonomous.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
BR157,

You need to lose that chip on your shoulder. Lot of anger in your posts. And as stated above, medics work within the parameters of their medical director. Not saying critical thinking skills aren't needed, saying medics are not truly autonomous.

By your name you are an EMT-B and not an RN or a Paramedic.

I did not say anything about Paramedics being autonomous.

However, the day that Paramedics can challenge the RN exam without any additional education, except maybe the CNA as compared to the EMT-B, I will be okay with what the OP has asked.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Afghanistan. :D Trust me...

As I said earlier, I was (still am) a paramedic, then became an RN. It's apples and oranges, but all fruity. But neither can really fill the other's role well without some edjumucation. Just my opinion.

The OP did not mention if she was a military RN. I guess if she truly had this experience and all of this experience from the military as an RN then it would be okay to challenge the Paramedic without any additional training.

But, given that you said it is apples and oranges, are you okay with a civilian RN with no additional training challenging the Paramedic exam and having no clinicals for skills such as intubation? That is the topic.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
But, given that you said it is apples and oranges, are you okay with a civilian RN with no additional training challenging the Paramedic exam and having no clinicals for skills such as intubation? That is the topic.

No, the topic was RNs challenging NREMT-P. But either way, that is that "edjumucation" piece I was talking about - it's necessary both ways. I am currently both, and I know what both require in terms of education/skills/etc. The community college that offered that one semester bridge (that was in my very first post in this thread) did require the RN to first obtain EMT-B certification, then do that one semester that was jam-packed with ALS time on a busy bus. Probably no worse than a shake-n-bake medic school, right? I know some paramedics who shouldn't intubate, ever. Just sayin'. Just because it's in the scope doesn't mean someone is good at it! There are some jurisdictions around that are starting to insist on things like the King LT when possible due to bad tube jobs, but I really never saw too many misplaced ETTs.

For the record, flight nurses in Georgia intubate. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion