Trauma Nursing, Paramedics, and the ER

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I have a lot of questions, so please bare with me! I don't want to offend anyone, or do say anything really dumb XD.

I am just about to start my senior year of high school, I received my CNA certification and am a certified EMS- First Responder during my junior year. This coming year, I will be taking EMT-Basic.

My ultimate goal is to work in the ER.

This is where my dilemma is!

I don't want to be a doctor, that's for sure! However, I want to do the most that I can in the emergency room, meaning in terms of skills and scope of practice!

I was wondering about just going on to be a Paramedic, and working in the ER. Does a Paramedic do the same skills as a trauma nurse? Like, are they equal in what they can do?

And, it's only an extra year of schooling, since I have my EMT-Basic certification.

Or do I just need to go into nursing as a registered nurse? Do I get to go directly into the ER, or do I have to work until I get enough experience to go into it?

Or do I get both Paramedic and RN, and get to go into the ER?

Sorry with all the questions! I really need to start making decisions soon, and I really really want the answers to be as detailed as possible, answering all my questions.

Thank you so much for your patience :)

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Specializes in Emergency.

No, paramedics work as techs in my local ED's and they are unable to administer medications. Also, if you want to be a Registered Nurse, you might as well save your schooling for that. In Florida, RN's are able to challenge the Paramedic certification with no schooling needed.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic ICU.

Paramedics dont do much in the ER from what i have seen, they act as a tech; similar to a cna. I would go for an RN as soon as you can but the emt-b would be great experience before getting into nursing school and you cuold work part time while in school.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

In my state paramedics do clinical rotations in the ER during their schooling, but if they do get hired in the ER they work as ER techs as their scope of practice is limited to field/ambulance/mobile ICU(medic rig) under the direction of an ED physician. Medics cannot intubate, start IV's, administer medications, defibrillate, or any other ACLS/ALS skill once care is transferred from the EMS to the ED team.

Paramedic does not equal trauma nurse/ED nurse.

My sister earned her EMT-B in nursing school. When she graduated with her BSN & started working in pediatrics she was recruited for a pediatric ED (her EMT cert was reciprocal) and they paid for her MSN, PALS, and MICN (mobile intensive care nurse) so she was on the pediatric critical care transport team.

MICN has a greater scope of practice than a paramedic. They have critical care experience and can manage invasive critical care equipment such as arterial lines and are used for inter-facility transfers of critical care patients to specialty hospitals.

RN's in many states can challenge the paramedic certification preferably with experience (i.e. a new grad may be declined permission to challenge the paramedic certification).

You may be able to get a job in the local ER as a nurse tech/ER tech while in nursing school & with an EMT-B. (Nurse techs are usually nursing students who have completed nursing 1/fundamentals 1 and mayhave a greater scope of practice than a CNA/ER tech)

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"You may be able to get a job in the local ER as a nurse tech/ER tech while in nursing school & with an EMT-B."

Really? I did not know that! I might really consider that! What do they do?

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I'm not sure I would work as an EMT-B while in college over CNA. EMT is more face paced, adrenaline, while CNA is more laid back, and taking care of the sweetest people. I think in Nursing School I will want to be focused on the material, not thinking about the emergencies I had to deal with XD

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Some areas EMT-B is mostly volunteer. Many squads have memberships for students where their "required hours" are only 'enforced' during school breaks.

EMT-B is often a requirement to work as a tech/cna in the ED.

As far as nursing school, I would definitely recommend going straight for a 4-year BSN degree as that is the current trend in preference for entry level nursing positions. If you have both your EMT-B & CNA you will definitely have more options of work environments while you attend school.

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"As far as nursing school, I would definitely recommend going straight for a 4-year BSN degree as that is the current trend in preference for entry level nursing positions."

Oh... I was planning on going for 2-year at the community college.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a 2-year community college but if you have the means and time it might be more beneficial to secure your BSN. In a 3-county area the minimum requirement for a new grad or transfer into the ED is a BSN. Many of the current nursing staff have a deadline to enroll in an RN-BSN program.

I would say to look at all your options for ADN/Diploma/BSN programs in your area. You haven't even started your senior year in high school yet.

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I see.

So, I have a few more questions, from what I've seen so far.

So, senior year I am going to be working as a CNA, save up money for school.

So, then I can get a job in the ER, since I will have my EMT-B as well?

Then, if I get my BSN in Nursing, and maybe get Paramedic Cert, will I be able to get into the ER quickly?

What if I did the 2-year program for RN, and also got Paramedic Cert? Would I be able to get into the ER still?

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Specializes in LTC currently.

Ultimately, I think you Want to be an ED nurse. I have a friend that became an ER tech while going through a two year nursing program at the local community college. When she graduated, there was an ED nurse position opened for her. If emergency nursing is what you truly want to pursue, I strongly advise getting experience, even working part time thru nursing school as it increases your chances of being hired once you complete school, especially since the market is saturated with everyone flocking to nursing since they think it is recession proof. Good luck in your endeavor.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

There are some EDs that use paramedics as paramedics in the ED ... i.e., their scope is beyond that of an ED tech. However, in my experience (as paramedic working in an ED, this was in Virginia), I was an ED tech with the same scope as a non-paramedic ED tech -- stock, stick, and scrub. LOL.

There are no guarantees that being an RN and a paramedic will land you in an ED position, but it probably increases your chances. Just be aware that, while there is overlap in many ways, ED nursing and being a paramedic are very different animals. :)

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