Hello I'm in the RN program, currently in Med-Surg. I am in a school that is a very respected school known to the RN world, that makes a very high standard for RN students which nothing is wrong with that but just so you see my point. I'm finding it very very hard to pass my class GIGU (Med-Surg) (this is my 2nd time taking the class):nuke:, so you can imagine with a lot of sacrificing being made and not getting out the results you have BEEN hoping for. So my question to everyone is what can/do I do? I'm thinking to take the approach towards Paramedics to get more experience or is that a foolish route considering I'm half way there to get my RN. I'm an exhausted student looking for peoples experience in BOTH paramedic and RN.
I know this question, many might not like it:smackingf but I'm not the type finding the easy way out I'm actually in the medical field because I sincerely want to help others emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
So here's the question What schooling is found to be harder? paramedic or RN?
Any advice for someone struggling in med-surg? Is it normal to struggle as much in med-surg? Do the classes after med-surge like peads, cardio, psych, & OB are as intense?
Are you really understanding the material or memorizing it? It takes more than just reading and memorization. Review your exams/test/quizzes with your professor to identify what part of the material you are having issues with. Have you spoken to your professors for help/feedback? Seek tutoring? I recommend study groups that way you and other students can discuss various aspects of the course. Considering you go this "RN ivy league" school, I am sure there are resources available to get you through the course.
From one student to another, hang in there, good luck!
In the state of FL you have to go to EMT-B school first. If you have that done and your RN license (+ACLS done) you can challenge the state paramedic test. That's what I plan on doing (graduating with BSN in april, did EMT school last summer) and it seems like you get the most bang for your buck AND time.
Would it be wrong to ask if anyone out there knows anything about acclerated emt or paramedic programs in Florida?
My ulitmate goal is to be a Flight paramedic/RN!
There are several accelerated EMT programs in FL since it takes only about 110 hours for the EMT-B. The Paramedic program is somewhere around 1000 hours for that state and there are also several schools that will allow you to finish in less than a year including the certificate at a community college.
Florida is largely a Fire based EMS state so as a Paramedic, finding decent employment doing 911 emergency calls, you may have to become a firefighter which is a highly competitive job to get which might take 1 - 5 years of applying after you get your Paramedic cert. There are a few nonFire EMS agencies but many will have plans to consolidate to Fire in the future. A few FDs and county EMS agencies do have their own flight programs with Paramedics. There are also private flight programs that will take a Paramedic after just 2 years of experience with a busy 911 service. So, you could actually become a Flight Paramedic in as little as 3 years including the EMT and Paramedic program.
To be a Flight RN, some programs may want a BSN since it is very competitive for these positions. Then, you may need at least 3 years, with 5 preferred, experience as an RN in various Intensive Care Units such as Cardiovascular, Neuro, Trauma, Pediatric and Neonatal. ED experience would also be a plus. You must be able to handle critical care patients independently for transports from an ED or ICU to a another hospital for a higher level of care. You will be the higher level of care during the transport.
If you are a Paramedic first and then complete the RN, you will still need 3 - 5 years of fulltime experience in the Intensive Care Units and ED as an RN to take the Flight RN seat. It doesn't matter if you have 20 years of expreience as a Paramedic in the field. It is the critical care expertise for interfacility transport flight teams want. Paramedic school will not come close to the depth you will or should cover shock and trauma as an RN in a good ICU.
In FL, if a helicopter does scene response for 911 calls, the RN may be required to have a Paramedic cert. But, in FL that is easily obtained through challenging the state exam after you get your EMT-B cert. Most RNs who have met all the Intensive Care experience requirements and alphabet soup certifications in preparation for a flight team have no problem passing this exam and may take a weekend refresher to review what they may not be familiar with. RNs with flight teams rarely have a problem getting their intubations, central lines and chest tube experience done at a hospital which will be arranged by their flight employer. For the teams not associated with the FD you will find there are a variety of crew configurations including RN/Paramedic, RN/RN and RN/RT.
Thanks for the response. I forgot to mention that my financial aid is going to be cut off shortly. So that puts me in a tight spot considering RN they highly recommend not to work compared to Paramedic I think people have part-times and even full time jobs.
NUrse2033- Were you are RN 1st or a Paramedic? (I would think being a Paramedic first well help you to put the overwhelming material from the RN school into perspective)
Would it be wrong to ask if anyone out there knows anything about acclerated emt or paramedic programs in Florida?
My ulitmate goal is to be a Flight paramedic/RN!
Trust me, I'm not looking for a way out. I'm looking for options in a humble way. I'm just searching whats meant for me for right now with the help of everyone too.. I'm grateful.
I was a medic first and had ten years of experience before nursing school. This meant that I already knew about half the material making nuring school easier, but I still had to learn all the same nursing culture, care plans and so on. Without knowing you and all the factors involved it is hard to give advice. To be a flight nurse you must have a few years of ICU experience, and EMS experience would be valued but not required in some agencies. You would also need street experience to become a flight medic so either way you have quite a bit ahead of you. I dont' know if you mentioned EMT experience but you should have 1-2 years of street smarts before you go to paramedic school. Some programs, called zero to hero, will take people and call them paramedics with no prior experience. (This is stupid and dangerous!) Anyway, you should make out a big chart of pros and cons of the whole deal including time lines, costs, relationship issues and so on. There would be nothing wrong with 1 year EMT experience, 1 year paramedic school, 1 year paramedic experience, nursing school, 1 year on the floor, 2 years in ICU, then off you fly! Good luck!
I am currently a paramedic having a very difficult time transitioning to nursing. Not because class is hard, but because EMS is usually a full time job. I crawl into class often after not having slept in 2 days.
I'll not whine here. Just do the RN.
Usually people are either flight RNs or flight medics. Not usually both, and they both do the exact same thing, but the medic gets paid less.
As far as school, it's apples to oranges. If it can't kill you in the next hour, medic school won't spend much time on it. On the other side, I can't imagine that RN school goes into nearly the depth as EMS on cardiology, etc.
if the rn program does not work out, try an lpn program. it is much easier to bridge to rn later on when you are an lpn already (more lpn-rn programs). be forewarned though, lpn program is not a piece of cake but i will assume you will have an easier time because you already know what to expect.
Usually people are either flight RNs or flight medics. Not usually both, and they both do the exact same thing, but the medic gets paid less.
A few of the skills may overlap like starting an IV and intubation but the experience and education are vastly different which is why there is a pay difference. The better flight companies do recognize the RN for their 4 years of college and 5 years of ICU experience. Both the RN and the Paramedic will also have some of the same certs like ACLS but the RN may also be required to meet the requirements to obtain specialty certs with ICU experience. Several states and flight companies do require the RN to have the Paramedic cert to satisfy the definition of prehospital provider by statute or just as an extra "specialty cert". But, the RN will still work under their RN license. Holding and maintaining a Paramedic cert along with the RN should also be recognized for pay if it is a requirement. If you look at the current flight job listings, you will see the requirements for a Paramedic will usually just list the Paramedic cert and 2 - 3 years of work experience without specififying a degree or any special certs other than what is normally used in the field which may require specific work experience. The FP-C can be taken right after someone receives their Paramedic patch without actual experience as a Paramedic nor any experience with a critical care patient. However, for both the RN and the Paramedic, the interview will reveal whether the person is just a cert collector with most of the knowledge coming from a prep book or if they actually know what they are doing from experience.
You also can not always say the Paramedic makes less than the RN. The Paramedic working for a FD may make significantly more than an RN in pay and benefits. Doing a few salary comparisons, it seems this is true for Florida. A FF who gets their Paramedic patch will see a nice salary increase whether they ever work an ALS truck or not and the education will probably be provided by the FD.
For additional info, check out the forum at this site:
There are experienced flight RNs and Paramedics who can offer advice on that forum. You will find many of the questions already answered under the "Getting Started" heading.
Usually people are either flight RNs or flight medics. Not usually both, and they both do the exact same thing, but the medic gets paid less.
A few of the skills may overlap like starting an IV and intubation but the experience and education are vastly different which is why there is a pay difference. The better flight companies do recognize the RN for their 4 years of college and 5 years of ICU experience. Both the RN and the Paramedic will also have some of the same certs like ACLS but the RN may also be required to meet the requirements to obtain specialty certs with ICU experience. Several states and flight companies do require the RN to have the Paramedic cert to satisfy the definition of prehospital provider by statute or just as an extra "specialty cert". But, the RN will still work under their RN license. Holding and maintaining a Paramedic cert along with the RN should also be recognized for pay if it is a requirement. If you look at the current flight job listings, you will see the requirements for a Paramedic will usually just list the Paramedic cert and 2 - 3 years of work experience without specififying a degree or any special certs other than what is normally used in the field which may require specific work experience. The FP-C can be taken right after someone receives their Paramedic patch without actual experience as a Paramedic nor any experience with a critical care patient. However, for both the RN and the Paramedic, the interview will reveal whether the person is just a cert collector with most of the knowledge coming from a prep book or if they actually know what they are doing from experience.
You also can not always say the Paramedic makes less than the RN. The Paramedic working for a FD may make significantly more than an RN in pay and benefits. Doing a few salary comparisons, it seems this is true for Florida. A FF who gets their Paramedic patch will see a nice salary increase whether they ever work an ALS truck or not and the education will probably be provided by the FD.
For additional info, check out the forum at this site:
There are experienced flight RNs and Paramedics who can offer advice on that forum. You will find many of the questions already answered under the "Getting Started" heading.
If you are struggling with Med-Surg, unfortunately you will probably struggle with Paramedic School as well. Paramedic school is very intense and fast paced. I served in the Air Force as a critical care tech for 8 years, the medical field for a total of 12 years, I have been a Paramedic a little over a year, and in nursing school for 1 year. It is all intense, but you really have to decide what your area of passion is. I enjoy being a paramedic but emergency medicine is not my passion. I enjoy talking to patients, taking care of them, and helping them through their illness be it the end of their life or not. I want to be an ICU RN or a hospice nurse. So at 31 years old, I have decided to work full time, go to nursing school full time, as well as being a mom & wife! Ugh, it's tiring but it's time I realize my passion and strive to get there! Good luck...hope my pep talk has helped!
I think you should talk with your instructor and get advice on how to adjust your study habits. I would read all assigned reading for the class. Supplement with NCLEX books. Use those recommended by your school as well as others. Nancy Hogan has some good NCLEX books. If you only get one (in addition to what your school recommends) --get her Comprehensive Review for NCLEX RN. --But use the recommended texts and supplements FIRST. Do the questions in the study guides, too. Read the rationales explaining the answers.
Make flash cards.
Read the text BEFORE you go to class. Make the class your review session.
I'm thinking to take the approach towards Paramedics to get more experience or is that a foolish route considering I'm half way there to get my RN. I'm an exhausted student looking for peoples experience in BOTH paramedic and RN. 
DPSGraduateNurse
149 Posts
Are you really understanding the material or memorizing it? It takes more than just reading and memorization. Review your exams/test/quizzes with your professor to identify what part of the material you are having issues with. Have you spoken to your professors for help/feedback? Seek tutoring? I recommend study groups that way you and other students can discuss various aspects of the course. Considering you go this "RN ivy league" school, I am sure there are resources available to get you through the course.
From one student to another, hang in there, good luck!