I have a question...I've been in EMS 12 years, a Licensed Paramedic for 10. I've worked in a busy, urban 911 system, clinical research and an interventional radiology paramedic. I'm looking at nursing school as a new challenge. Anyone have any experience with moving from paramedic to RN? Looking for advice!
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Your only advantage is real world experience. It looks good on your nursing application. You will have to go through the program just like everybody else.
I'm not a nurse. I'm a radiologic technologist. I know because a co-workers husband is a paramedic and he investigated the same thing.
What does an interventional radiology paramedic do? I've never heard of such -
you may qualify for an RN Transition program to get a BSN which is goodComment
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Your transition should be easy. You may have to retake your Anatomy and Physiology I and II because it has been over 10 years since you have taken them. Otherwise, you should have any easy time in nursing school! You will just have to remember when you become an RN that there are things you were able to do under your Paramedic license that you are not covered under your RN license. This is snipehunter's wife by the way
I have been an RN for 7 years now. I have ICU, ER, IMC, and cardiology experience and it is a great flexible job! Good luck!!!!!!
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there is no transition program that i am aware of. Just 2 years of hard workOriginally posted by TexasRednekChic View Post
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I know Skunklady is a nurse, and I think Deadeyedeb is one, too.Comment
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I'm looking todo the same thing I've been looking at bridge programs I would only have my associates doing that but would be able to have my RN and could work on a bachelors. Ive heard alot of good things about the excelsior on line bridge program and have a buddy doing it right now and likes it alotComment
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Yeah there are several actually. 6 or 7 in Texas. You get credit for previous college course work + paramedic experience. Most are 10-15 months long as opposed to 2- 2 1/2 years...Originally posted by LeanMachine View Postthere is no transition program that i am aware of. Just 2 years of hard workComment
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I have some friends who have done Excelsior also...looking at it as an option for sure!Originally posted by Tx_hunter89 View PostComment
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hmm googled it and you are right. Obviously i was mistaken somehow. I'm sure things haven't changed since what i was referring to. Must've got something confused. It is past my bed time after all. Hospital doubles are no funComment
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The only thing I see as being difficult about it is the clinicals. I have a co-worker, my former Captain as a matter of fact, that I spoke extensively to about this. He did it and he said it was all very simple (the bridge that is) until he got to doing his clinicals/skills testing. He had to go to a place somewhere far enough away that he had to stay in a hotel, seems like it was out of state, but I can't remember for sure. You do all of the skills testing/clinicals in one day, and it's VERY expensive because you have to pay the hospital that you are testing at. You get one shot to get all your skills right, or you're done and have to come back at a later date, and pay again.Comment
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I'm an Rn have been since 2001, an Lvn from 87 til 01. I encourage you to go for it. You already have alot of skills, some of which will come in helpful should you want to work ER or ICU. The clinicals are not that hard. If you are a quick study, I would recommend the on-line programs. However, it does not give you the ops to work on the clinicals. YOu will get credit for some of your classroom already taken and life experience as a paramedic will give you some as well. Taking the RN program in a classroom setting will give you alot of practice witht he clinicas.
You can write your own paycheck pretty much, a very diverse field and job security for the rest of your life.
Do it!!!!!!Comment
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Hey deb how is the medicaid/medicare reimbursement changes and such affecting yall? I work in radiology and it is rocking our world. They have cut back staff several times in our dept (including myself), and are slowly but surely chipping away at our benefits. If we leave or get laid off now we only get 75% of our paid time off. Our weekend guys just lost their weekend differential. Corporate acts like things are just terrible. When i got laid off i went to work for a clinic within the same corporation so i'm still under the same umbrella. Things look grim. I haven't heard good news in a long time.Comment
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I began as an EMT and military in 1990, I did a BSN program because I wanted a commision, I did my pre-reqs at a community college, and finished my BSN in 96. I had to sit out a couple of semesters of CC due to deployments.
The medical background will help, especially in terminology and clinicals, others in class always came to me for advice. Dont act cocky, just stay low key, but get to know instructors.
I enjoy my job most of the time.
Ive done post surgical (pacu), icu, er, and critical care transport.
My favorite job is being deployed as a CCATT nurse, critical care transport team, I hate seeing our young warriors injured, but there is no better rewarding feeling knowing you are saving one of our heroes and making a difference in someone that really matters!Last edited by gibowhunter; 05-26-2011, 11:10 PM.Comment
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You might try talking to some of the helicopter flight crews in the area, judging by your location that will be PHI and Starflight. I think both have some that are both Medic and RN. I would imagine you will be able to find one that bridged from Medic to RN that can give you some feed back on the process. You may also talk to some the Clinical Coordinator or somebody like that at the EMS service you work for and ask them if they know of anybody in your system that has done it unless of course you system is small enough that you already know everybody.
Good Luck and doing it will deinitley open more doors for you. The State EMS Director, Maxie Bishop, is an EMT-P and RN.Comment
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