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.
Here in CA almost all of the ER Tech positions require some sort of field experience of at least 6 months to a year.. it might be different in different parts of the country
as a few people have said you can always get your paramedic cert after you become an RN ..
if the ER tech positions in your area require experience then i would recommend working with a 911 ambulance company...
but if your ultimate goal is to be an ER RN then dont bother with the Paramedic.. i was going to do the Paramedic thing too but with the severe lack of Medic jobs here in CA and the fact that they are severely underpaid unless your with the firedept (which winning the lotto is easier getting a job with the fire department)
I think it would be very hard to do paramedic and BSN at the same time. Nursing school is very time consuming. I work as a ER tech now while in a well respect ADN program and I got the job from volunteering there for a year and a half and starting nursing school because I knew the director and nurses there.
We have a tech who works with me and he is doing his paramedic. He plans to go for his RN later AFTER he gets paramedic experience. You can have a license for something but it is the experience that is more important. I would choose either RN or paramedic to do first and then do the other after you got experience if you change your mind. Getting into an ER immediate is hard and if you don't have experience as a tech or nurse it is very hard to get hired there.
Of those who have RN/Paramedic they usually have the dual license to work in flight nursing which can be another option for you. I might recommend volunteering at your local ER if there are not tech positions open then keep in contact with the director about upcoming openings. That's how I did it and I had a job offer in my 1st semester of school though I plan to go into ICU.
You can go ADN or BSN route. If you don't have tech position it is very hard to get hired as a ADN here in my city. If you go ADN I strongly recommend going ADN-BSN or MSN for job security.
I'm an EMT-B working in an ED. It's actually possible to work in a lot of different places with your EMT-B depending on your area -- I've been able to use it as a medical assistant, CNA, etc. Where I work, paramedics have no more scope of practice than I do. However, working at an ED (or any hospital) has the added benefits of getting your foot in the door at a healthcare system and making you eligible for what can be significant amounts of tuition assistance. I'm doing my ADN now, and will likely do my BSN after that while I'm working. Since I've been working as a tech, the managers know me and I've established myself enough that I will hopefully be able to work as new grad in the ED right out of school, which is not too common.
There's short RN to paramedic bridge courses out there, so in terms of what to do first, I'd get my RN and then paramedic and additional certifications. You can check out ENA.org for more info (Emergency Nurses Association).
Sure, or you can do your ASN so you can start making money sooner before moving on to your BSN. It really depends on your area, financial situation, etc.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The possibilities across the country vary as much as the scenery. I have worked ED's that the Paramedics are just like the ED techs doing stocking, transport,splints, and so forth. I have worked in ED"s where the EMT-P (paramedics) are equal team members with their own unique niche in the team giving meds, starting IV's, inutbating (putting in breathing tubes) and caring for the critical and critically injured.
In term of what to do it is difficult not knowing what is common where you live......go to the local fire department and ask the medics there......in some areas of the country paramedics are not fire department based but the EMT's there will know where to find them. You can do either first, the quicker is to become a Paramedic and then go to be an RN. In today's climate and with a long furture a head of you my suggestion is to get your BSN. Whether or not it's an RN-BSN 2+2 program or not a BSN is what you are going to need to have to have a long career and possibly more education if you decide Trauma flight or transport.
None of these options will guarantee a position in the ED per se but having emergency experience by being an EMT may give you an advantage..........
Kudos to you for thinking amd planning ahead!!!! Good luck!
Specializes in prehospital, ER, critical care transport.
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.
Not true in NJ. An MICN is simply an RN who is working in the role of a paramedic. No difference in scope whatsoever.
Specializes in prehospital, ER, critical care transport.
OP: take it one step at a time. Go to EMT school and see if you like it. Go spend a little time working as a CNA and see if you like it. Don't worry so much about the grand plan, I guarantee you it is going to change, because you are going to change. Enjoy the ride!
MusicEMT
212 Posts
What state are you in?
Here in CA almost all of the ER Tech positions require some sort of field experience of at least 6 months to a year.. it might be different in different parts of the country
as a few people have said you can always get your paramedic cert after you become an RN ..
if the ER tech positions in your area require experience then i would recommend working with a 911 ambulance company...
but if your ultimate goal is to be an ER RN then dont bother with the Paramedic.. i was going to do the Paramedic thing too but with the severe lack of Medic jobs here in CA and the fact that they are severely underpaid unless your with the firedept (which winning the lotto is easier getting a job with the fire department)