UCLA RN to Paramedic Bridge

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

I don't know the program but yes it would be worth the 10 grand. You would be valuable to any ED, transport or flight crew for better pay.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 12, 2014

From someone who got educated separately in both, please do not do a bridge program.

Nursing and paramedicine are two totally different mindsets, thus they both deserve there own educational programs!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2014

Interesting....I did the reverse...I was a RN who became a paramedic. I thought it was fine. Tell me your prospective.

EMT6530 · Oct 13, 2014

From someone who got educated separately in both, please do not do a bridge program.
Nursing and paramedicine are two totally different mindsets, thus they both deserve there own educational programs!

I was an EMT-I for a few years with private and 911 transport companies. Anywhere from IFT's to medical emergencies to trauma. I would like to think that I have both mindsets. Just don't have the time to go to paramedic school separately while trying to further my RN career.

SnowballDVM · Oct 14, 2014

I'm not sure it's worth that amount of money. My paramedic course was about $3,000. I'm now finishing up nursing school (I hope!) and the academics of the paramedic course were much easier than the academics of the nursing course. So far as I know, the only skill that paramedics are licensed to do that most nurses are not is endotracheal intubation, at least in my state, and in my state the powers-that-be are encouraging FEWER ET intubations in the field because of the time delay in getting to the ER, and the fact that most patients can be adequately ventilated using a BVM +/- a non-visualized airway like a King.

I realize that the cost of things in the UCLA area is higher than where I live, but $10K still seems like a lot. On the plus side, if you already have your RN, the academic portion of the paramedic curriculum should be easy for you. And you might really enjoy the ambulance ride time. But still, $10K...

EMT6530 · Oct 15, 2014

I'm not sure it's worth that amount of money. My paramedic course was about $3,000. I'm now finishing up nursing school (I hope!) and the academics of the paramedic course were much easier than the academics of the nursing course. So far as I know, the only skill that paramedics are licensed to do that most nurses are not is endotracheal intubation, at least in my state, and in my state the powers-that-be are encouraging FEWER ET intubations in the field because of the time delay in getting to the ER, and the fact that most patients can be adequately ventilated using a BVM +/- a non-visualized airway like a King.
I realize that the cost of things in the UCLA area is higher than where I live, but $10K still seems like a lot. On the plus side, if you already have your RN, the academic portion of the paramedic curriculum should be easy for you. And you might really enjoy the ambulance ride time. But still, $10K...

Ya that was the biggest concern was the cost. I do enjoy the ambulance aspect, but I was mostly considering the bridge because I figured it would make me more valuable for flight nurse/medic transport later on.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 15, 2014

Going from RN to P should be fairly easy. There's some info on the California State EMSA website about the basic process. The hard part will be finding a program to do the field internship through. I would seriously doubt that you'll need to spend more than a couple thousand to have a program "host" you for testing and field internship purposes. By that, I mean that going through the equivalent of a Paramedic refresher course and then doing a field internship and taking the exam shouldn't cost anywhere NEAR $10k. That's in the neighborhood of what some private institutions charge for the full course. You probably truly don't need to do the full course, if you've got EMT or an Intermediate certificate already and you're now an RN.