|
career choices: PARMAMEDIC vs. NURSING
|
Question:
I have been accepted to both nursing and paramedic programs and am really struggling between the two. Originally, the RN was my choice, yet there seem to be a lot of disgruntled and unhappy RNs who say they wouldn't do it over again if they had the choice.
Answer:
There are many paramedics who would say that, too. It all comes down to your individual preferences and inclination. Nursing has more options for specialization and career progression. Some EMS providers allow RNs to work as part of a pre-hospital emergency care program. Generally, nurses command a higher wage than paramedics.
Paramedics, OTOH, are street people (unless you must work the ER in your downtime). While being in the street can get very old very quickly, there is a greater variety of scenarios to test your skills. Being a paramedic is like being a stepchild. Sometimes (not always), you work for an agency that was chartered for some other mission and has embraced EMS rendition either to justify staffing levels, funding or because of politics. Other times, you work for an outfit that’s like F& U Ambulance (Fishbine & Unity) from Mother Juggs and Speed. Beware of ambulance companies who hire you because you have a driver's license and have a fat man smoking a cigar telling you should collect cash from the patients. Working for private services adds to the adventure. The stepchild thing also pertains to *some* healthcare professionals who look at paramedics and say, Ick! (At least one girl in med-school I dated said that. Not clear whether she was saying that about me as a paramedic or just me. Today she is an MD and still said Ick the last time she saw me).
All that said, I had a great deal of fun as a paramedic, even though it was very demanding. I don't (frequently) regret having been a paramedic. I do regret not having continued on some career development track, perhaps becoming an RN. After a certain age, fun doesn't put food on the table - so you stop having it entirely.
Do your homework and try to find some place that will allow you to shadow several, non-vitriolic RNs and paramedics to see where you fit in. NEVER become complacent in your own education and advancement!!!
I have been accepted to both nursing and paramedic programs and am really struggling between the two. Originally, the RN was my choice, yet there seem to be a lot of disgruntled and unhappy RNs who say they wouldn't do it over again if they had the choice. I am wondering if the degree of dissatisfaction is similar with EMT/Paramedics.
I pondered that same question many years ago. I decided to become an RN. For the most part I enjoy my work. I am now an ER nurse. I’m now considering challenging the paramedic program to allow me both worlds. Challenging the program will involve taking the final paramedic test and completing the field internship. Many times while I'm at work, I say to myself I wish I could be out and about instead of being stuck here . I wish I could go out to any resturaunt to eat or run errands while I was at work I wish I could sleep/nap/play when things get slow
IF you are unsure what path to take between EMT-P and RN, think about this:
1) The nursing lobby and associations are far stronger than those of
Paramedics; 2) Nurses receive, in most cases, far more training than
Paramedics; 3) numbers 1 & 2 create a situation where it is far easier to transition from RN to EMT-P, than it would be to transition from EMT-P to RN. 4) With national certifications in both, you are open to many career opportunities all over the country (of course, you will have to take the
Paramedic protocol exams and/or Nursing Boards for the state in which you decide to work.).
Depending on your age, time & funds available, and your desire, you could get your RN, get some experience, and transition to EMT-P in as little as 4 months part-time (depending on jurisdiction and the training program used).
I am a technician in a Genomics research laboratory, and have been doing research for almost 5 years. I was originally pre-med in college and got my degree in Biology with a concentration in Clinical Microbiology. I started working as a volunteer EMT, and got the Med-Bug again, so I now I am a Maryland Cardiac Rescue Technician (Similar to EMT-I), and almost done with the EMT-P program which I choose mostly because I enjoyed the dynamics of the pre-hospital environment (especially when compared to my research job).
I am preparing now for the Natl. Registry exam; in fact this post is my way of relieving study stress. We have RNs in our program all the time, they usually finish in one semester by completing course work from both the 1st &
2nd year classes at the same time (attendance for RNs is only required for classes that are strictly pre-hospital in nature), RNs are permitted to simply take our exams on a P/Fail basis, do the requisite field rotations and skills labs, and of course take the accumulative program exam.
In retrospect, with my Bachelors of Science already in my pocket, I might have completed the requisite RN coursework for a Nursing certificate or degree, then transition to EMT-P. I would then have more employment options and the opportunity to gain much more varied experience, and perhaps more money considering the current RN storage we are experiencing.
These are all some things for you to think about. You of course, may have a clearer view farther down the road and make a firm decision one way or the other; but, the nursing coursework will NOT be a waste of time, especially if the programs you are trying to decide between are from the same institution.
|
|
