Should I become an AE

Editorial Team / Moderator · Feb 23, 2016

Are you an EMT-B or EMT-I? Your profile settings indicate EMT-I, which is typically more advanced.

I was a paramedic and ER tech before I became an RN and was hired by the same ER where I worked when I finished school. Being a paramedic was very helpful, but there was still a transition because the RN mindset is a little different.

If you want to work in the ER, I would suggest looking for a position in an ER while you are in school. Show your worth and they will want to keep you. My job offer was "We're not letting you go" and it came with a great ER nursing fellowship at our hospital system's Level 1 facility.

In my opinion, having the CEN and TCRN without experience only shows that you can take a test, not that you are experienced. Board certifications are best when one has experience because they are meant to validate the things that we do every day as ER/trauma nurses.

Good luck with your school applications! :)

Socal_EMT · Feb 23, 2016

Im an EMT-B, my profile needs to be changed. I understand experience is king in the medical field but it wouldn't hurt to achieve those certs right? As of right now I'm going to start volunteering in an ED as an ER-Tech at a local hospital. During the interview the HR hiring manager stated that they don't hire ER-Techs, that they only take from their ER-Tech volunteer program.

I just want my down time to be as productive as possible. I've even purchased nursing textbooks to start reading the material early.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Feb 23, 2016

I understand experience is king in the medical field but it wouldn't hurt to achieve those certs right?

Again, as someone who holds both of those certs with the experience to back them up, I don't see them as an accomplishment without the experience, beyond showing that you can take a test. Also, if you are also interested in the ICU, those certs do not really apply, though the TCRN does consider the entire continuum of trauma into the TICU environment (but does not go that deep, in my opinion). You'd want to look at the CCRN for ICU.

Will some hiring managers take those certs as a sign of commitment to the profession? Sure. It might be enough to give you an edge, but I would save those certs for later down the line, when you have some experience. There is more value in showing your face and work ethic to those who can later hire you or give you a recommendation to those who do the hiring.

We had something similar to the advanced EMT in Virginia; those EMT-Bs could give certain meds. Our ER techs (who were not all EMT-Bs) could start IVs, and being comfortable with that skill prior to nursing school will benefit you in that you'll be comfortable with something that seems to freak out a lot of nursing students. :)

Thank you for correcting your profile to EMT-B, it helps when those things are accurate.

Socal_EMT · Feb 23, 2016

Thank you for your input! The job market out here in Southern California (as in other places im sure) is so over-saturated with new grads that it makes me nervous, so that's why I wanted to know certain details I guess.