Will my EMS experience help me get a job?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 18, 2009

Mine did, but mostly because I was already an ED tech as well. I'm now an RN in the same ED where I was a tech for almost 4 years. I think being a medic helped me be a better nurse (and vice-versa -- I'm still a medic, too), but I'm not sure how it contributed to my hiring. Some hospital systems give you "credit" for prehospital experience; others, not so much. Good luck!!

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 19, 2009

EMS experience shouldn't hurt, but there's no guarantee that it will get you a job. I did EMS for 19 years (2 yrs EMT, 17 yrs EMT-P), and still had buckets of fun finding a job.

EMS experience WILL definitely help you with your patient interaction/assessment skills versus a newbie nurse with zero prior experience.

docbkh · Nov 20, 2009

I concur with the previous posters...

I've been a Paramedic and Navy Corpsman over the years, and now a new RN. Most hospitals just wanted to know how much experience I've had as an RN. I was recently hired by a great facility and NM that respected my diverse (non-RN) experience and saw it as a noteworthy foundation to build nursing experience on.

Have faith... at least in yourself! :up:

Good luck!

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2009

I may have an opportunity to delay my BSN to get my medic so that I could work as a medic during NS. I thought maybe that would help in this dismal new grad market I keep hearing about, plus I could keep working as a medic until I got hired as an RN. But now I am thinking just to go straight to the BSN track and then go to P school after NS if I cannot get a job right away.

docbkh · Nov 20, 2009

Sounds like two reasonable courses of action.

A few things for you to consider as YOU decide what's best for YOU...

- how well do you learn while you are overworked and underpaid? or simply, do you consider yourself a strong student? (many of the "strong" ones struggle while only going to school FT, no side jobs)

- do you plan on using your P after you get your RN job?

- how well do you adapt? (I agree with the thought that Ps do better advancing to RNs than RNs do advancing to Ps... I believe it's about the confidence developed from autonomy.)

I imagine that other folks have different thoughts...

:twocents:

Good luck, mate!

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 21, 2009

I may have an opportunity to delay my BSN to get my medic so that I could work as a medic during NS. I thought maybe that would help in this dismal new grad market I keep hearing about, plus I could keep working as a medic until I got hired as an RN. But now I am thinking just to go straight to the BSN track and then go to P school after NS if I cannot get a job right away.

If you go the "normal" route for paramedic, that would probably take you 4-5 quarters at the local community college (NOTE: your state may vary). If you get your ADN or BSN first, many places offer a RN to EMT-P transition course that only takes 1-2 quarters.

Even if you don't go for paramedic prior to nursing school, another worthwhile thing to do might be to get your EMT-Basic certification. This takes a lot less time, and would still give you the scene size-up/patient assessment experience. You can always learn/do "stuff" like cardiac stuff, intubation stuff, IV meds/ACLS stuff. The most important core info, however (in my not-so-humble opinion:D), is pt assessment - you get a lot of this from running a year or two as an EMT-Basic.

Having your EMT certification might let you work as a CMT (certified medical technician) at your local hospital while attending nursing school. This would give you an "in" for getting hired at that facility as a RN once you graduate.

Good luck!

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2009

If you go the "normal" route for paramedic, that would probably take you 4-5 quarters at the local community college (NOTE: your state may vary). If you get your ADN or BSN first, many places offer a RN to EMT-P transition course that only takes 1-2 quarters.
Even if you don't go for paramedic prior to nursing school, another worthwhile thing to do might be to get your EMT-Basic certification. This takes a lot less time, and would still give you the scene size-up/patient assessment experience. You can always learn/do "stuff" like cardiac stuff, intubation stuff, IV meds/ACLS stuff. The most important core info, however (in my not-so-humble opinion:D), is pt assessment - you get a lot of this from running a year or two as an EMT-Basic.
Having your EMT certification might let you work as a CMT (certified medical technician) at your local hospital while attending nursing school. This would give you an "in" for getting hired at that facility as a RN once you graduate.
Good luck!

I've had my EMT-B for 5+ years with lots of other weekend alphabet soups (WEMT, IV, EKG, PHTLS, and all the others). I have wilderness, 911 ambulance, IFT, and clinic experience.

Because I have all my prereqs I could do a compressed AAS EMT-P any of the three of the local colleges that would last 6mo including clinicals (6 days a week). That's how I learn best. So if I wanted to do that course, there is a chance I can ask a BSN program to give me a start date 6mo later to allow me to do that medic course.

I don't think RN->Medic courses are the best plan. Most also require 2 years of ICU nursing experience.

EMTYankeeFan · Dec 4, 2009

having experience as a EMT cant hurt. You learn a lot more as a nurse but it will help you have a firm understanding of the basic concepts especially when it comes to patient assessment.

melissakp · Dec 7, 2009

I have been a paramedic for 20 years and can't find a full time nursing job in Oregon. Found a casual postion at an urgent care, love it but want to get in full time some where. Turned down for one new grad position they gave pref. to BSN and apparently got enough of the. Still actively looking.

ok2bme · Dec 16, 2009

It didn't help me. I really think it is their loss for not recognizing the value of our EMS education and experience. :down: