Re: EMT-P to RN programs

Excellent points Dwayne....anyone who thinks becoming an RN is easy hasn't done the course work. No one should get a free ride just on prior experience. Good luck on getting your nursing degree.

Steve Sittig

>From: Dwayne Rich

>Reply-To: flightmed@flightweb.com

>To: flightmed@flightweb.com

>Subject: Re: EMT-P to RN programs

>Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 14:59:20 -0500

>I will add my two cents here. As a paramedic that is working towards

>his

>RN, I will say this. Most of the students I am in class with have no

>experience outside of school. They have no concept of improvising

>and

>many of the nurses that I have talked to that work in the hospital

>say

>they wouldn't work in the field because theirs is a semi controlled

>situation. I have some good friends that are RNs and are excellent

>in

>the field. Some I know can't pour pee out of a boot with the

>instructions written on the bottom. My classes towards my RN are

>much

>more detailed than my Paramedic classes were. It's simply a matter

>of

>time. I think that both sides have similarities and differences. I

>think

>each side should be required to take the required training for

>whatever

>they want to do. Paramedics should take the nursing curriculum and

>nurses should take the paramedic curriculum. There is a different

>emphasis in both programs that should be learned. I am not a fan of

>any

>bridge program. I don't think that nurses should be allowed to

>challenge

>the paramedic exam. If they argue they should, then the same

>considerations should be given to paramedic wishing to become RNs.

>Truth

>be known the educational aspects of attending class doesn't hurt

>anyone.

>Yes it's inconvenient and many of the students in class with me

>have

>made the comment they should just grant me my degree so I can take

>the

>nursing exam. I do very well in my classes. I am at the top of my

>class

>but I think that is because I have been exposed to years of good

>instructors. Better education usually means better patient care.

>Dwayne

>NREMTP

>JuliaS2@aol.com wrote:

>>Well, said Bill,. Being a RN who has taught and developed EMT-B

>>through EMT-P courses since the beginning of time (since back in

>>the

>>early 80's) both fields provide a knowledge base that needs

>>further

>>developed. Each have different emphasis, and different strengths

>>that

>>we need to expand on. For nurses in the Emergency or maybe in the

>>ICCU area's there are many over lapping areas, but all of this

>>knowledge is learned after your basic education. When I first

>>started

>>flying I was the first RN that wasn't an EMT-P hired so they sent

>>me

>>ride 6 weeks with Denver General EMT-P, that was one of the best

>>experiences of my life. But I feel the knowledge bases is boarder

>>in

>>the nursing field. Think of a Hospice nurses or other none

>>emergency

>>specialties there is very little of the EMT-P role involved.

>>Should

>>EMT-P be given credit for there experience? Should a RN be given

>>credit for their experience? YES they both should.

>>Just a side note, I have helped develop and teach the EMT-P course,

>>test students, etc., for over 18 years, I have spent more time in

>>ambulances then may EMT-P have in there first few years, but in the

>>state of CO I can't take the EMT-P course unless I sit through the

>>same class I have been teaching for years.

>>Just a thought

>>Julia Spring RN