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.
I just got a job as a CNA and will be working as one my entire senior year, and I've taken a lot of health classes, so hopefully that makes me a good candidate for the program.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I just got a job as a CNA and will be working as one my entire senior year, and I've taken a lot of health classes, so hopefully that makes me a good candidate for the program.
I would go straight to nursing. Getting your EMT I believe will help and give you a greater respect for EMS, however in the long run I think nursing is your best bet. The field is very very different from the hospital. EMS is very different from ER medicine. But it all comes together, and I think it will give you a better understanding from both sides if you have your EMT and practice while getting your RN. Good Luck!!
I would see if your area EMS allows ride alongs. If so I would look into that, and the same to see if your local hospital allows students to shadow. I think that is a great opportunity to see what EMS and emergency medicine is about. Paramedic is a degree that is very time consuming and demanding as much as nursing. EMT basic is a wonderful way to get into the field of emergency medicine. And it is only a couple nights a week for 4 months or so.
The only reason I would consider doing Paramedic, so I get into the ED a little quicker.
I would say to save your money and time with becoming a paramedic. You already voiced that you have no interest in the pre-hospital environment and you are only "punching" a ticket to get into the ED.
I say this based on my experience. I am a licensed paramedic in my state. I had 9 years of 911 field experience with a very aggressive medical director. That did not help me get into an ED because I did not have nursing experience. After 2 1/2 years of critical care, I was able to transition into the ED. The paramedic license itself did not help me, however, it did help with regard to understanding diseases, medications, skills, etc.
If you get the medic certification just to have it without using it, then it really is a worthless piece of paper.
You have some very insightful advice on this thread, I'd think about it.
Something else to consider is that field providers can easily tell who is there to punch a ticket and who is there to do the job. If you're just looking to get some additional training, go for EMT. Those basic EMT skills will be what you'd use a LOT should you decide to stop and help someone. Those basic skills and about 6 months to a year of good experience will make that stuff second nature. Later, as you add RN level knowledge to what you already know, you'll find that transitioning to Paramedic will be MUCH easier.
The other thing is that along the way, you'll learn that there's quite a difference in knowledge and scope between EMT-B and EMT-P personnel and you'll know the difference. I've met more than a few RN's along the way that really don't know that there is a difference.
Nursing Experience is what will eventually get you to the ED. Good EMT experience will help in making rapid decisions for ABC's and quickly determining sick or not (immediately) sick. "Sick" is, of course, someone that is fixing to die unless immediate care is given. The Nursing stuff is what'll help you figure out the rest and stay in the ED.
pishoncna
35 Posts
The only reason I would consider doing Paramedic, so I get into the ED a little quicker.