Transitioning over to Nursing

0.9%NormalSarah, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2019

I was not an LVN or paramedic before nursing school, but a guy I graduated with was a paramedic for like 10 years before school. He had to start from the first semester with all of us, it wasn’t a bridge program. However, I can tell you he worked as a paramedic during the program at least one shift a week, super smart and nice guy too. He made it work. Nursing school is hard and requires yes 2-4 days of attendance depending, but you will also be spending lots of time on studying and care plans. I worked a ton during my program. It just depends on you, you have to really know how you study and learn. Some people could work, others couldn’t and still had to work super hard to keep their grades up. All smart, just different learning styles. A lot of people worked part time. Full time work in any nursing program is a recipe for disaster for most people.

danielg_84 · Mar 21, 2019

On 3/15/2019 at 9:28 AM, LoadingMedic said:
Hello everyone,
I am looking to transition over to nursing from my paramedic. There is a part of me that wishes I would have just done the normal traditional route of nursing and attained my associate's degree. I am looking into some bridge programs located in Texas and Georgia. I came across one college called Lone Star College for the bridge program for paramedics but the program also I think requires attendance 2-3 days a week. I will not be able to confirm this until the school returns from spring break.
My question is I am looking for some advice on anyone who has transitioned from there LPN or paramedic and became an RN. How did you do it and were you able to work full-time during it? I am a single male who has bills that need to be paid and I can't afford to not work while in the bridge program.
Is there any advice or tips someone can give to someone in my situation? I am 26 years old and really want to attain my nursing degree before I turn 30 and then have my BSN before I turn 35. Also is there anything I can do prior to the nursing program to get a head to start on studying? Maybe pharmacology tips to start studying?
Thank you to anyone who reads this!

Hey there!

I'm a Paramedic about to graduate from Lone Star at their North Harris campus. Their bridge program condenses the basic track students' first 2 semesters into one 11 week summer session, and then you are put in with them for the last 2 semesters (fall and spring). It's been a really good experience.

They lists of pre/co-requisites is not as extensive as some other community college's programs seem to be. You can find that on their website pretty easily.

I THINK their requirement for their transition program includes your LVN or Paramedic cert being specific to Texas. But if you were serious, reciprocity probably isn't too bad.

Again, if you were serious, Houston has a bazillion jobs for a paramedic. On a 911 truck, private truck, as a tech, et all. For a major city, it's fairly cheap to live in. (It has it's faults for SURE, but it has jobs, colleges, and "affordable" housing.) It wouldn't be too hard to find a job, find a place, and start working the process to get in to Lone Star's program.

I was able to work 2x 24hr shifts a week during the program, but it was NOT easy. In reality, if you could find a place within driving distance that would let you do a 48 on the box over the weekends, that would be kind of perfect. The program has class on Wed and Thurs, with clinical on either Mon, Tues, Fri, or Sat. They ask for your top 3 preferences and try to match you. The first couple of weeks of each semester require some additional days, but only the first 2 weeks of the summer session are too crazy.

Where are you located now?

LoadingMedic · Mar 24, 2019

On 3/21/2019 at 7:18 PM, danielg_84 said:
Hey there!
I'm a Paramedic about to graduate from Lone Star at their North Harris campus. Their bridge program condenses the basic track students' first 2 semesters into one 11 week summer session, and then you are put in with them for the last 2 semesters (fall and spring). It's been a really good experience.
They lists of pre/co-requisites is not as extensive as some other community college's programs seem to be. You can find that on their website pretty easily.
I THINK their requirement for their transition program includes your LVN or Paramedic cert being specific to Texas. But if you were serious, reciprocity probably isn't too bad.
Again, if you were serious, Houston has a bazillion jobs for a paramedic. On a 911 truck, private truck, as a tech, et all. For a major city, it's fairly cheap to live in. (It has it's faults for SURE, but it has jobs, colleges, and "affordable" housing.) It wouldn't be too hard to find a job, find a place, and start working the process to get in to Lone Star's program.
I was able to work 2x 24hr shifts a week during the program, but it was NOT easy. In reality, if you could find a place within driving distance that would let you do a 48 on the box over the weekends, that would be kind of perfect. The program has class on Wed and Thurs, with clinical on either Mon, Tues, Fri, or Sat. They ask for your top 3 preferences and try to match you. The first couple of weeks of each semester require some additional days, but only the first 2 weeks of the summer session are too crazy.
Where are you located now?

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and respond to it. I am in the process of getting my paramedic right now in the state of Georgia and once I attain it I wanted to move to Texas working for MCHD with the paramedic license.

Thank you for the response and the details. I was looking at Lone Star College and San Jacinto College.

danielg_84 · Mar 25, 2019

14 hours ago, LoadingMedic said:
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and respond to it. I am in the process of getting my paramedic right now in the state of Georgia and once I attain it I wanted to move to Texas working for MCHD with the paramedic license.
Thank you for the response and the details. I was looking at Lone Star College and San Jacinto College.

MCHD is a great organization. Good luck on landing your first job!

I've attended both Lone Star and San Jac, and I definitely prefer Lone Star. For being such a large community college system, they are surprisingly easy to work with.

LoadingMedic · Mar 25, 2019

I’ve been hearing very good things about MCHD and I am extremely excited to have an opportunity to work for the company once I graduate paramedic school.

May I ask why you prefer lone star over San Jac? Also since MCHD does a 24 on 24 off and 4 day off repeat schedule. Do you think this will be doable when going to the bridge program or will majority of my days most likely land of my work days? That’s my biggest concern. Thanks for the reply!

danielg_84 · Mar 26, 2019

On 3/25/2019 at 8:39 AM, LoadingMedic said:
I’ve been hearing very good things about MCHD and I am extremely excited to have an opportunity to work for the company once I graduate paramedic school.
May I ask why you prefer lone star over San Jac? Also since MCHD does a 24 on 24 off and 4 day off repeat schedule. Do you think this will be doable when going to the bridge program or will majority of my days most likely land of my work days? That’s my biggest concern. Thanks for the reply!

Any kind of schedule like that will cause the days you work each week to rotate, so you will need to find people who can swap shifts with you to get coverage for school. Working full time during the program is difficult, but not impossible. If it's feasible for you, I would suggest working part time.

San Jac is a fine school, but in my experience Lone Star is institutionally SUPER accommodating for it's students, and does what it can to minimize hoop-jumping and red tape. Also, the sheer size of Lone Star as a system gives you more options for scheduling pre reqs, and more spots within their nursing programs.