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!

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

Then why are you here? To start problems?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
I can see I have to start at the beginning here with first explaining what EMTs and Paramedics are.

Paramedics do much more than just spinal immobilization. This part is directed at Esme12. Paramedics can give meds, do IVs, intubate, do central lines, EJs, work a code, do a cricothyrotomy, and decompress a chest.

EMTs do not get drug calculations in their training. They are first aiders and barely have enough time in class to learn all they should know. An EMT-Basic probably will not be giving Tylenol. This is directed at hherrn.

If you just challenge a Paramedic test even if you do have EMT, how in the hell are you going to tell your employer you are ready to intubate, put in a central line or even an IO, run a code with just an EMT partner, decompress a chest or perform a cric? Did you learn it from youtube?

BR157, I am a Paramedic and I'm also about to graduate from RN school... and I'm going to tell you the same thing I would have told you 13 years ago, when I got my Paramedic license. Everything you listed and I boldedis a psychomotor skill. What does that mean? It means that it's something that can be taught to almost anyone and have those skills be performed competently. What are Paramedics supposed to be taughtis the why behind those skills, and more importantly, why not to do them.

Some of my Paramedic Instructors were CFRNs who were very experienced ICU and ED nurses. They learned to do everything you listed and so much more. The flight crews were entirely RN staffed - no Paramedics and about 70% of their flights were scene calls where they often were the first to arrive on scene. They think like paramedics. They also think like ICU and ED nurses.

Here's the thing: the program I graduated from emphasized the ability to think. Sure, we got all the psychomotor skills and we were as ready for the streets as new paramedics as anyone. However, we also knew that sometimes our patients would present with problems that weren't covered by our protocols or have emergent medication needs that weren't normally carried on our trucks.

Until I see evidence that you can actually think critically instead of simply criticize, I'm going to consider you nothing more than a protocol monkey.

Oh, and yes, I have met some RNs that are outright scary...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

BR157 - all of these advanced skills that you are trolling on about are taught in the military to EMT-B healthcare specialists. Cric, chest tube, fast-1, ej, and more. If a wet behind the ears high school grad EMT can learn it then anyone whose made it through the stress of an advanced education can learn it. I'm sure there is a craigslist forum on gun rights, gay marriage, or Christian values that would love to have you as their personal troll. You are clearly too special for us here at AN

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

Why would a paramedic inset an art line in an emergent situation?
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Why would a paramedic inset an art line in an emergent situation?

Critical care transports for long distances which are emergent for the sending hospital but an aline is best for continuous monitoring. I thought you said you did flight.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
BR157 - all of these advanced skills that you are trolling on about are taught in the military to EMT-B healthcare specialists. Cric, chest tube, fast-1, ej, and more. If a wet behind the ears high school grad EMT can learn it then anyone whose made it through the stress of an advanced education can learn it. I'm sure there is a craigslist forum on gun rights, gay marriage, or Christian values that would love to have you as their personal troll. You are clearly too special for us here at AN

You post just confirms you have no idea what a Paramedic is and can do nor what skills are being discussed.

Civilian medicine and that what must be done in time of war are very different and not an appropriate comparison. In civilian life EMT continue with education to learn these skills and are then called Paramedics. It is like taking an 18 y/o CNA and in a couple of years they are an RN.

Intubation and crics- are part of of a Paramedics skillset. So is needle decompression and managing chest tubes.

I believe in a situation that is not in a war zone, the education should be more thorough than just rushing an 18 year old through boot camp style training. Why do RN need a whole 2 years of school in the Us? It probably could be done in less also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're absolutely right BR. I'm clueless and no nurse could ever do what you do. Will you go away now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why don't you comment on the OP question instead of just jumping on you soapbox with an inappropriate comment about EMT in the military and civilian life. Better yet, find a former military EMT and ask them about being an 18 y/o in war.

Do you really believe an RN who does not have a military EMT background can just take a test and be ready for the streets as a Paramedic? Serious question and is the op.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The comments for the OP were made before you showed up.

Take a course - take the nremt - be a nurse P

Then you got bent out of shape that the question was asked.

There are no stupid questions, but sometimes the answer lacks the requisite intellectual forethought and reason.

Go now. You are the troll here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
By your name you are an EMT-B and not an RN or a Paramedic..

I'm an RN. If you look at my name, you'll see that it translates to "EMT-B to RN". What that means is I was (am) an EMT-B and became a nurse. Make sense now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Critical care transports for long distances which are emergent for the sending hospital but an aline is best for continuous monitoring. I thought you said you did flight.
You clearly do not want a conversation and only want to make people annoyed.

I have NEVER seen a flight crew insert an a line for transport. Did the patient have one prior to transport? Yes. Can they be monitored on a portable monitor? Yes. I have yet to see a crew delay departure to insert an a line.

I have NEVER seen a street medic insert an a line either. Again delaying transfer.

I have NO ISSUES with medics at the bedside in the ED. However you seem to have plenty of problems with nursing. For that I apologize for whomever insulted you.

No one is doubting your expertise nor your abilities. I am confused by your vehemence against nurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Department.
Critical care transports for long distances which are emergent for the sending hospital but an aline is best for continuous monitoring. I thought you said you did flight.

While I've seen flight (and ground) programs insert an a-line, I've never seen one done by a street paramedic. Could I do one? Sure. Would I want to? No. While an a-line can provide a LOT of data, it's not going to be necessary for street use. For interfacility use, they can be good and valuable, but they can be placed under surgical asepsis at the sending facility. Good luck being able to emergently set up and place an a-line under surgical asepsis in the field...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion