Rn to medic

[KCTRN]

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!

[BSNhopeful88]

You do realize that many of us stated that in most cases RN's should not challenge the medic exam without some formal training. If you feel you could sit for NCLEX...by all means do so.

As a Paramedic currently in nursing school, the education for both is invaluable but different in their approaches towards care. Nursing school, and therefore the NCLEX, is geared towards a broad and thorough education on caring for individuals through the continuum of their illnesses. Paramedic programs are highly specialized, naturally. New nurses are expected to then become experts in their specialties through orientation, certifications, and continuing education. Education is mandatory for both paramedics transitioning into RNs and vice versa. From what I know, several states do allow prehospital RNs to practice without the paramedic certification but a similar, separate education. I hope the OP finds the program that suites her needs.

Esme, thank you for your kind and courteous posts. Your experiences sound daunting as a student, but make me more sure emergency nursing is a wonderful and challenging field to work in!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

But I also believe any Paramedic with an Associates degree is just as qualified to take the RN exam. There is no difference in medications, anatomy, physiology or skills.

BR157, the approaches to healthcare delivery are very different between the two disciplines. While you are correct about certain factual info, and even that there's some skill overlap, the goals for what nurses do and Paramedics do are very different. Paramedics are even trained along a different model than the nurse is.

As a Paramedic with an Associates degree and as an RN, I simply disagree. One does not translate that seamlessly to the other that they can do either with only being educated in one, and that goes both ways.

I'm a Paramedic that has a Bachelors in an allied healthcare field, and trained along the medical model at that... I have to agree with Pixie.RN here, you really can't translate seamlessly from one field to another without the proper education in both fields. I had a LOT of education in A&P, exercise physiology, and injury physiology. That knowledge certainly helped, but it wasn't really adequate preparation for me to simply "slide" over to nursing without going to school to learn the nursing stuff. Now I'm almost done with that and I can definitely see that it's not very easily possible to slide from one to the other.

[ricardoj]

Getting back to the initial trajectory of the thread, is anyone aware of whether an RN with an EMT-B in Massachusetts would be able to challenge the NREMT-P as mentioned in the "RN Challenge Checklist" from earlier in the thread? Thanks in advance.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Getting back to the initial trajectory of the thread, is anyone aware of whether an RN with an EMT-B in Massachusetts would be able to challenge the NREMT-P as mentioned in the "RN Challenge Checklist" from earlier in the thread? Thanks in advance.

Are you a ED nurse?

I think that while they provide the opportunity it isn't that east to pass the test. You need to know the medic protocols for the different districts. They are in 4in 3 ring binders.

[ricardoj]

I'm sure it's not easy and I'm sure it's not something that many RNs are qualified to do. I was simply curious if it was something that was still offered now that MA is switching to National Registry.

[CowboyMedic, DNP, APRN, CRNA]

Taking National Registry for Paramedic is not just about taking a test. You also have a practical portion that contains a complete trauma assessment and treatment, a complete medical assessment and treatment, ECG rhythm interpretation and treatment, an intubation station, and several oral scenarios. I believe there are a total of 11 stations that must be passed for half of the National Registry, the other half is the test.

[ricardoj]

I'm familiar with the process of challenging the medic as it has been offered in MA for quite some time. In addition to the written and practical skills test there is also the field internship requirement with a certain number of ALS calls, electricity, tube, meds, etc. I was really just looking if anyone had some info on whether it was still an available option since the switch to NREMT.