RN to Paramedic (indiana)

[GnikKing3]

I am a nursing student now (just got accepted) and I am really interested in the trauma aspect of nursing. I am a volunteer firefighter now but go to school full time. Anyway i was wondering if Indiana has anything where once I am an RN I can bridge to paramedic. I know I can challenge the EMT test but i was wondering if there was anything for paramedic thanks! Eventually i want to become a flight nurse or trauma nurse.

[DidiRN]

Moved to Indiana Nursing Forum for best response.

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

SECTION 53.

(a) This SECTION supersedes 836 IAC 4-9-2.

(b) A registered nurse can challenge the paramedic course if they meet the following:

(1) Be a registered nurse in Indiana.

(2) Be an Indiana certified emergency medical technician.

(3) Be able to document one (1) year of experience in an emergency department or as a flight nurse

with an air ambulance service.

(4) Hold an advanced cardiac life support certification.

(5) Hold either an American Heart Association or American Red Cross Health care provider card or

equivalent.

(6) Be able to meet prerequisites required by the commission, the emergency medical technician

paramedic curriculum, and the local training institution course.

© For successful completion of the paramedic training course, a registered nurse must meet all of

the requirements set forth by the training institution for all students or meet the prerequisites as

described in subsection (a) and the following:

(1) May earn credit by written examination for individual modules of the paramedic course.

(2) Test out of a module to be completed prior to the beginning of that module by completing:

(A) the written examination with a passing score; and

(B) the practical skills examination with a passing score.

Failure of any module exam will require the students to participate in the entire module.

(3) Successfully complete the paramedic program comprehensive final examination.

(4) Demonstrate skill proficiency by completing the paramedic level skills with course proficiency.

(5) May earn credit of clinical hours by review of the student's past experience in the clinical areas.

(6) Complete all field internship and required hospital clinical hours.

(7) Pass the paramedic written and practical skills examinations as approved by the commission.

(8) Meet general licensure requirements in SECTION 55 of this document.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

No...there is no "bridge" to paramedic ....you can challenge the exam...but that requires experience. Al lot of experience as the role of a paramedic in the street and intubation skills immobilization, mass causality triage, as well as the knowledge of protocols....is tough without working as a medic. The roles of the two are completely different.

Being a paramedic is suggested for flight nursing...but you will require extensive ED/trauma experience with ICU throw in. Concentrate on getting your BSN and ED experience. I would look into the EMT and get hired in a ED as a tech to gain experience.