Will paramedic be useful for ICU job?

Scrubs_n_sirens, MSN, RN · Jun 19, 2016

Eh. Maybe. You won't be doing intubations in the ICU. The iv start skills and working knowledge of medications and cardiac intervention may be beneficial but that's not something you can't learn through nursing school and nursing orientation.

I wouldn't over do it if you're doing an Accelerated BSN.

Honestly probably save yourself the money and just do nursing. When you're done with nursing, you can always challenge the paramedic test.

BradS · Jun 19, 2016

Ok, thanks for replying. Upon further research, there's somewhat of a consensus that paramedics think differently than nurses and that the education models are completely different. It would be tough to be into the medic mindset hardcore and then turn around and get into the nursing mindset hardcore, back to back nonetheless, but I would still do it if it was beneficial for a nursing career.

Side note, I'd have to move to IOWA and incur a cost of about $20K ($10K tuition + rent/etc). So this would be a costly endeavor, especially if the payoff (in the form of a good nursing job) isn't there.

TEXASWAG, MSN, RN · Jun 19, 2016

To answer your questions. No. No. Maybe. From my experience I notice that adrenaline type junkies tend to thrive in the ER.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 19, 2016

I wouldn't advise doing a paramedic program and an Accelerated BSN simultaneously, unless you really don't need to eat or sleep, ever. :) Speaking as both, paramedicine vs. nursing is like apples and oranges: both fruits, totally different flavors. There would be some overlap because paramedics do learn about critical care meds and transport (at least I did in my program), but the depth wouldn't really be the same from your course as you'd experience with patients in the ICU.

Good luck in your program!

BradS · Jun 19, 2016

Yeah, simultaneously doing these programs has to be impossible! I would finish the medic program and then start the BSN about a week later :banghead:

Doable, I think, but there would be pain involved. And obviously some financial pain as well. Once again, my goal with medic would be to learn transferable skills and hopefully use it to help secure the nursing position I'm shooting for. I would volunteer shifts with a crew once in a while, but that won't be my focus going forward unless I can't get a job as nurse.

Another option would be to earn AEMT locally. I think it's like 4 or 5 classes.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 19, 2016

Once again, my goal with medic would be to learn transferable skills and hopefully use it to help secure the nursing position I'm shooting for.

I typically tell people don't become a paramedic unless you want to be a paramedic. I was a paramedic for five years before I became an RN, and I loved it (still do). But as far as it being a stepping stone, it's more of a lateral leap. But you would be more advanced than your classmates in a lot of things like patient assessment, being able to handle the unexpected emergency, IVs and meds (IVs seem to be a huge issue for a lot of students, they're sometimes scared of them). And who knows? You might discover you really like being a paramedic. :)

Does your BSN program start after you're done with the paramedic national registry exam, or is it just a short gap between coursework? Because prepping for the national registry exam (practicals and written) can be time-consuming as well.

BradS · Jun 19, 2016

Good question and I'm not sure. All it says is "course completion is May 20th 2017" and the BSN starts on the 26th. I was operating under the assumption that the test would be that day.

Is there any sense in doing AEMT-CC? It's 5 classes + clinicals and they can intubate and do IV's and ACLS. Obviously I wouldn't have the knowledge of a medic but could more "legitimately" challenge after becoming an RN.

Nalon1 RN/EMT-P, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2016

I'm with Pixie, the cost/time vs benefit is minimal if any. It will probably make no difference in getting hired in the ICU. You will only have a piece of paper, no actual field time as a paramedic, so no practical benefit.

My 16 years as a paramedic taught me a lot. I can do my pt assessment in 1/2 the time of most experienced ICU nurses, I'm called all the time to come get IV's, and am very comfortable with NG tubes and airway management, as well as any code situation. I did not learn this in class, it was with experience it came.

If you were wanting to become an ER nurse or a flight medic, the the paramedic would have more benefit, but for ICU just taking the course without doing it full time, no much.

Also, your class would be over May 20th, then you can schedule for the national registry exam, and I have no idea how long the wait is for that.

I had never heard of AEMT-CC, seems to be a New York only thing, equivelant to a EMT-Intermediate in most states. Again, really would not be helpful for getting an ICU job, and if your not working as one for a while, no skills benefit either.

hawaiicarl, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2016

I find medics usually do very well in ICU, they have a great set of skills, and are used to dealing with the sh-tstorm that can happen on the unit. The prehospital vs in-hospital mindset will take awhile to shake, but you already have that as an EMT.

Cheers

heinz57 · Jun 19, 2016

It will depend on how much working experience as a Paramedic and with what type of company. Some RNs have as much and more of the same book learning as Paramedics which is how they have been able to challenge the exam or just do a short bridge course to the certification. Working as a lead Paramedic on a busy 911 or CCT service might set you apart but may also leave you with a difficult adjustment to hospital life where everything you do is up for review by critical eyes. You might get frustrated if you have to step aside in the ICU and let a Respiratory Tech or Therapist intubate or secure the tube. It can also go in the other direction where an RN working as a Paramedic on an ambulance must have a hospital RN accompany them on a transport because of some medication or equipment not in their job description as a Paramedic.

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 20, 2016

To answer your questions. No. No. Maybe. From my experience I notice that adrenaline type junkies tend to thrive in the ER.

In SOME designated trauma centers the ER nurses, like the ER docs, have nothing to do with trauma. The trauma team is activated and the RN on the team is an SICU, or trauma ICU RN and the ER nurse is maybe used to run and fetch things, if at all.

I mention this because I work in a locally well known trauma center and am instructor in our nurse residency program. I have seen numerous former paramedics, now RNs, who came through the residency after being hired into the ER. They are expecting to be high speed ER trauma nurses, only to find themselves taking care of the LOL with constipation and the 5 year old with an ear ache while the SICU RN handles the trauma bay.