Will my EMT experience help get a job as an ER-Nurse?

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 22, 2016

I have been an EMT for a total of 4 years and my goal is to an ER-Nurse. Would it be worth mentioning on a job application one day? Or possibly during an interview? I understand their scopes and roles are MUCH different, but I believe it is still pertinent to the field of emergency medicine.

If it's just an EMT Basic, then it won't be very helpful. If you're a Paramedic, it might help as you'll have a far better understanding of things but the roles are still quite different. I would suggest that work as an ER Tech would be more helpful for getting an ER Nurse job simply because the techs get a strong understanding of the flow of patients through the department. They're taught to switch tasks very quickly.

What I would really suggest is that since becoming an RN is your goal, when you go to Nursing School, go in with the idea that you'll try everything because you never know when/if you might be completely bitten by a different bug than ER. That's what I did and I'm very happy with how I turned out. I found I really also like the ICU but right now I prefer the ED. As an ED nurse, I can take care of critical patients but not with the expertise that the ICU nurses can.

offlabel · Sep 22, 2016

Absolutely mention that. The world and the hospital interface at the ER. If you have an awareness of life in the field, the limitations, the challenges, the reality of transitioning someone sick or injured from a sidewalk or their kitchen to a 21st century emergency medical facility you have something valuable to offer.

It gives more depth with it than without it.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Sep 26, 2016

Absolutely mention that. The world and the hospital interface at the ER. If you have an awareness of life in the field, the limitations, the challenges, the reality of transitioning someone sick or injured from a sidewalk or their kitchen to a 21st century emergency medical facility you have something valuable to offer.
It gives more depth with it than without it.

Agreed. Knowing how EMS (and, by extension in most places, some of Fire/Rescue) operates is a boon in the ED, since you have a better idea of what happened prior to the patient arriving, plus it gives you a leg to stand on to chew EMS out when they've done something stupid. Further, splinting, spinal motion precautions, and other foundational EMS skills simply aren't taught in nursing school, but are handy to know in the ED. I once had to refuse an order to take a patient with a radiologically confirmed midshaft femur fracture out of the traction splint and into a knee immobilizer based solely off my EMT training; most nurses without that background wouldn't have batted an eye as they did that and caused the patient more injury and pain.

drollette · Sep 27, 2016

Definitely include it. Diversity of experience is valuable. If I remember correctly, one of the first things I did in EMT school was get my CPR cert, whereas one of the first things I learned in nursing school was about raising side-rails in beds and making sure the patient has the call-button close by. The person who completes an EMT basic course has been presented enough information and practice to be a BLS champion. BLS skills save lives, and I would say that BLS is a great foundation from which to build skills in ACLS, PALS, or any other kind of resuscitation standard practiced by nurses out there. You have a distinct advantage in caring for someone who is actively dying in comparison to someone who has only powered through a BSN and knocked out the NCLEX. Good luck to you!

drollette · Sep 27, 2016

p.s.

Im not hating on NCLEX or BSN (I am actively pursuing success in both) I had a really good experience with becoming an EMT and I think the training I got was robust and distinct.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Sep 27, 2016

If I remember correctly, one of the first things I did in EMT school was get my CPR cert, whereas one of the first things I learned in nursing school was about raising side-rails in beds and making sure the patient has the call-button close by.

You're expected to come to nursing school (or, at least, the one I teach at) already holding a Healthcare Provider cert, whereas most EMT programs don't have that requirement.

Socal_EMT · Sep 27, 2016

Would pursuing a paramedic cert help even more? Or would it be useless without 911 experiences to accommodate the paramedic.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 27, 2016

You're expected to come to nursing school (or, at least, the one I teach at) already holding a Healthcare Provider cert, whereas most EMT programs don't have that requirement.

Everywhere I have worked at as a Lifeguard, EMT, or higher all required the HCP level CPR course, nothing lower was acceptable. If the EMT program required a CPR course, it required the HCP level, if not, they taught and certified their students to that level.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 27, 2016

Would pursuing a paramedic cert help even more? Or would it be useless without 911 experiences to accommodate the paramedic.

Honestly, it really depends upon how close you are to Nursing School entry and your finances as to whether or not you should go for Paramedic. If you're at least a full program-length (1-2 years) out from starting Nursing School, you're basically done with your prerequisites for Nursing School, and you can afford to take time off from work and/or decrease your school studies and can afford the program, then you might consider going to Paramedic School prior to Nursing School.

In my case, I went to P School about 12 years before going to Nursing School. That experience and my prior background in sports med (BS Degree), definitely helped get me through Nursing School without too much trouble. The fact that I'm also a Paramedic may or may not have tipped the scale toward my favor in getting me hired as an ED nurse, I really don't know for certain. I hadn't been working as a Paramedic for about 10 years prior to nursing school entry. No, I hadn't forgotten much at all. The one downside to doing P school first is that some RN instructors don't care much for Paramedics and the other downside is that you sometimes approach patients in the way that you were taught in P school. While this isn't bad in the ED, as focused assessments are the norm, it's not good for other areas of nursing.

If you're looking to become a Paramedic also, if you're reasonably close to starting nursing school, you should check your state's EMS regulations as you may be able to challenge the Paramedic license after taking a Paramedic Refresher course and passing the NREMT after getting your license as a nurse as that pathway to Paramedic and Nurse may be overall much faster.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Sep 27, 2016

If the EMT program required a CPR course, it required the HCP level, if not, they taught and certified their students to that level.

The latter's what I meant - the programs I've seen all teach it first-thing, while the nursing programs require you to have it done beforehand.

SeaH20RN, BSN · Sep 28, 2016

If your goal is nursing finish and focus on your RN /BSN 1st. Paramedic is another 2yrs, get ER exp 1st then decide. Keep your EMT up update it will help and good luck!