Tired of EMS thinking they can walk in!

Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 18, 2008

Trauma, honestly, seeing as you've had it out with the guy pretty thoroughly on the other thread, what's the point of starting another one?

flightnurse2b, LPN · Dec 18, 2008

in our defense, paramedics are usually associate's or bachelor's trained and have to pass a national registry examination. most states also require licensure. i for one am not a shake and bake medic.

scoop and tx is a little harsh. give the girl some darn credit. that's almost as nice as ambulance driver.

of course she needs additional education to become a nurse because our scope of practice is very different. what was difficult for me in nursing school was learning the nursing process.

there are many things a paramedic can do that an RN cannot and vice versa. but really, when you work in the ER, they are your team mate, whether you like them or not.

do not think just because you are an RN and she is not that her assessment and critical thinking skills are not as good as yours. she can also start iv's, intubate, insert foley catheters, splint and cast extremeties and defibrillate patients and has gone through extensive training to do so. paramedic pharm, imho, was more difficult than nursing pharm for me (and im not sure if it was because i'd seen the meds before) and it was more indepth because you are not in a controlled environment and have to make split second decisions often with little to go on, esp with all the crazy street concoctions people are making these days.

when you call 911, and an ambulance picks you up, a paramedic does your assessment and initiates treatment which most times includes loading doses of meds. if she was rude to you, that's another thing. but give credit where credit is due. she is a qualified professional.

play nice.

RN1982 · Dec 18, 2008

Saw the comment on the other thread, Trauma. It was in regards to the EMT you told to go away. I just wanted to say it was rather rude and uncalled for and you should apologize. As you know, everyone is welcome here on AN, even MDs/PAs.

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2008

in my humble opinion....

EMS is HUGE part of the emergency department...

i don't know what ER you work in but in my ER ems is always welcome... we even have our own ambulance and flight staff...

i know this cause i used to work flight....

if you have a problem w/ ems... im thinking that you should not be working in an ER...

you do realize that all ems personnel.. be it emt-b to an emt-p has to do a certain amount of clinical rotation in the ER...

it is obvious that you never worked ems before you became an er nurse....i don't mean to be offensive or rude... but i am SO taking up for all of the EMS staff out there that get crap from nurses...

did you ever do a rotation in nursing school in OB?

do you think they would be griping about you because you brought someone to that dept?... i know it don't sound like the same thing.. but you have no idea... EMS... THE E STANDS FOR EMERGENCY.. they are the front line!!... they are the ppl that pick them up @ home and bring them in....

if you are working a code for instance... you have a lot of nurses...and a doc.. or 2... depending on where you work....

well... they have 2 of them...

usually an emt-p and an emt-b

which quintessentially all the hard work to the paramedic...

the initiation of the iv... fluids.. med administrationl, defib if needed... all that!... by him/herself.... while the emt-b can do compressions and such in the field... then they have to drive the ambulance to bring them to YOUR ER......

don't ever dis EMS.... EVER....

THEY ARE THE FRONTLINE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE~~

:cool:

nghtfltguy, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2008

oh...

and on a side note....

it is a level one trauma center and we have an *in house* staff of paramedics that work EXACTLY the same job as us nurses...

only difference is they make less money.....

they deserve the same though

:cool:

Trauma Columnist · Dec 18, 2008

ER and EMS work hand in hand. I have been so very fortunate to work with some wonderfully articulate, intelligent and hardworking EMS personnel from volunteer EMS/firefighters to paramedics. There is plenty of work for all of us. We're a TEAM!

I say this as someone who is a current pre-hospital RN who volunteers on my rural fire dept and I also work as an advanced practice nurse in an ER. I have the best of both worlds and I really appreciate EMS - if I'm hurt, ill or need 911, they are the ones I want to come and help me.

Putting others down, whether they be a CNA, LPN, ADN, BSN, etc., doesn't makeus appear smarter or more experienced, it just makes us look small.

TraumaNurseRN · Dec 18, 2008

in my humble opinion....
EMS is HUGE part of the emergency department...
i don't know what ER you work in but in my ER ems is always welcome... we even have our own ambulance and flight staff...
i know this cause i used to work flight....
if you have a problem w/ ems... im thinking that you should not be working in an ER...
you do realize that all ems personnel.. be it emt-b to an emt-p has to do a certain amount of clinical rotation in the ER...
it is obvious that you never worked ems before you became an er nurse....i don't mean to be offensive or rude... but i am SO taking up for all of the EMS staff out there that get crap from nurses...
did you ever do a rotation in nursing school in OB?
do you think they would be griping about you because you brought someone to that dept?... i know it don't sound like the same thing.. but you have no idea... EMS... THE E STANDS FOR EMERGENCY.. they are the front line!!... they are the ppl that pick them up @ home and bring them in....
if you are working a code for instance... you have a lot of nurses...and a doc.. or 2... depending on where you work....
well... they have 2 of them...
usually an emt-p and an emt-b
which quintessentially all the hard work to the paramedic...
the initiation of the iv... fluids.. med administrationl, defib if needed... all that!... by him/herself.... while the emt-b can do compressions and such in the field... then they have to drive the ambulance to bring them to YOUR ER......
don't ever dis EMS.... EVER....
THEY ARE THE FRONTLINE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE~~

I do not have a problem with EMS and they work as medics in our ED everyday. Some of my best friends and co-workers are medics and there are times I would much rather be working with them instead of the nurses. In my state though they do not have licensure to work as an RN. What I took offense to was the post attempting to beat a dead horse. I don't know how many times I have to say that EMS cannot legally practice as an RN in the same capacity as an RN in my state. If they want to practice as an RN, they must graduate from an accredited school and pass licensure. (Regardless if there is a nursing shortage). This is not a dis on EMS....it is law in my state. They are not allowed to legally diagnose, nor are they allowed to titrate nitro drips. When Mobile ICU units transport, they are required to have an RN, as well as flight. And as I said before. We all have our job to do and we all have honorable professions. In my state medics work as techs in the ED.

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Dec 18, 2008

As an RN and EMT, I know that we all must work together as the majority of us do very well. And some of the best ED providers and flight nurses I know are EMT-Ps.

But like in any profession there are doctors who think they are better than all nurses and nurses who think they are better than all CNAs and medics, and so on and so forth and I feel the way you speak of EMTs and EMT-Ps in this thread it seems you are being biased like the above statement.

And quite frankly a paramedic has more autonomy than a nurse does and does not require a doctors presence or input to facilitate interventions like a nurse does. And secondly they are licensed providers in all 50 states.

Also on another note after you ******* me out in the recent peanut gallery thread over something you had no business talking about, I definitely am begining to think you are very absent minded.

mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I · Dec 18, 2008

They are not allowed to legally diagnose

Last time I checked nurses do not legally diagnose either, what state do you give diagnoses in?

Trauma Columnist · Dec 18, 2008

Nurses do not diagnose - you are correct.

I'm an advanced practice nurse and it has only been since I received that license, that I now diagnose.

DebanamRN, MSN, RN · Dec 18, 2008

God bless all EMTs. They are on the frontline doing a job I would not want for anything. They are more than welcome to help out in our ER.

I'm interested to know why you can't let this go. It serves no purpose to beat a dead horse. One day you may need these EMTs and you will be SOL.

Just my :twocents: .