Bridge Program for Paramedic to Nurse

[Summit]

Believe it or not I live in south Florida, not rural at all, and there is a big job market for RN's with only an ADN down here. Most of the people I know after passing the NCLEX had a job offer only a couple weeks later. Ive looked into nursing but I don't want to stay here in Florida. I want to move to Denver and I have contacted a few nurses/students who are out there and they say it is almost impossible to find a job with just an ADN after school unless you are already enrolled into a BSN program. I don't know why it varies so much but it does. I plan on working as a medic out there and finish my pre reqs and then apply to an ADN program shortly after. Im sure I will learn more about the job market when I actually move there, so things might change. Who knows.

I'll try to help you out since I do know the Denver market. It is one of the most competitive markets in the US since:
1. Denver metro area overproduces nurses
2. Front range students who can't get in school in CO leave the state for school and return to compete for jobs
3. Tons of people want to move to CO, like you, and move here after school to compete for jobs

Don't come to CO to work as a medic in order to apply to an ADN program to get into a BSN program while trying to get a job. Here is why:

1. In general, the CO ADN programs have less desirable clinical placements which makes you a less competitive applicant. (eg, fewer ICU or ER practicum placements, med/surg may be lower acuity/LTAC/SNF, and your pysch and peds may be outpatient clinics instead of inpatient specialty)
2. CO ADN programs are either competitive or have wait lists lasting years. Do you really want to pay out of state tuition for an associates degree?
3. An ADN new grad in a BSN program is not as competitive of an applicant as a BSN new grad. (However, an experienced ADN in a BSN program is more competitive than any new graduate, except at the VA)
4. Only BSN new grads with <6mo experience AND <1yr post licensure are eligible for most new grad residencies (that is how you typically get hired into a specialty unit like ICU or ER straight out of school instead of starting in a nursing home or med/surg floor). ADNs who earn a BSN are NOT considered BSN new grads.
5. Your nursing school will NOT work around your job (pretty true anywhere). Your job may not be willing to work around your school if you are a new employee.

So if you want to be in Denver, let me propose these plans:

A. Come to Denver once you get accepted to a Denver BSN program (CU and Regis are my recommendations) and pick up per diem medic work.

or

B. Stay in FL and get your ADN, then get one year of experience while simultaneously starting on your BSN, and then start applying to Denver jobs.

 

[Agg04]

I'll try to help you out since I do know the Denver market. It is one of the most competitive markets in the US since:
1. Denver metro area overproduces nurses
2. Front range students who can't get in school in CO leave the state for school and return to compete for jobs
3. Tons of people want to move to CO, like you, and move here after school to compete for jobs

Don't come to CO to work as a medic in order to apply to an ADN program to get into a BSN program while trying to get a job. Here is why:

1. In general, the CO ADN programs have less desirable clinical placements which makes you a less competitive applicant. (eg, fewer ICU or ER practicum placements, med/surg may be lower acuity/LTAC/SNF, and your pysch and peds may be outpatient clinics instead of inpatient specialty)
2. CO ADN programs are either competitive or have wait lists lasting years. Do you really want to pay out of state tuition for an associates degree?
3. An ADN new grad in a BSN program is not as competitive of an applicant as a BSN new grad. (However, an experienced ADN in a BSN program is more competitive than any new graduate, except at the VA)
4. Only BSN new grads with <6mo experience AND <1yr post licensure are eligible for most new grad residencies (that is how you typically get hired into a specialty unit like ICU or ER straight out of school instead of starting in a nursing home or med/surg floor). ADNs who earn a BSN are NOT considered BSN new grads.
5. Your nursing school will NOT work around your job (pretty true anywhere). Your job may not be willing to work around your school if you are a new employee.

So if you want to be in Denver, let me propose these plans:

A. Come to Denver once you get accepted to a Denver BSN program (CU and Regis are my recommendations) and pick up per diem medic work.

or

B. Stay in FL and get your ADN, then get one year of experience while simultaneously starting on your BSN, and then start applying to Denver jobs.

This is all great information to know. Thank you for going in depth about it. There are personal reasons on why I have to move shortly after I get out of the medic program. I do appreciate the response. Its hard to get a feel of a place when you do not live there. But once I move from florida I don't plan on coming back and it wouldn't be great for me to wait three + years before I move. If Nursing somehow doesn't work out I was going to look into Fire in CO or some other licensed medical job. But I still don't know yet. Im trying to take it one step at a time and medic is next on my list. Again, thanks for the response, do you mind if I message you if i have anymore questions?

 

[Summit]

This is all great information to know. Thank you for going in depth about it. There are personal reasons on why I have to move shortly after I get out of the medic program. I do appreciate the response. Its hard to get a feel of a place when you do not live there. But once I move from florida I don't plan on coming back and it wouldn't be great for me to wait three + years before I move. If Nursing somehow doesn't work out I was going to look into Fire in CO or some other licensed medical job. But I still don't know yet. Im trying to take it one step at a time and medic is next on my list. Again, thanks for the response, do you mind if I message you if i have anymore questions?

Feel free to message me nursing questions.

I don't want to scare you into thinking nursing cant work out for you in CO... its just easier to make the best plan when you know the challenges.

There are several CO EMS types on this forum.
There are some good threads about working EMS in CO if you search for that info.

 

[Agg04]

Feel free to message me nursing questions.

I don't want to scare you into thinking nursing cant work out for you in CO... its just easier to make the best plan when you know the challenges.

There are several CO EMS types on this forum.
There are some good threads about working EMS in CO if you search for that info.

My profile picture accurately depicts me thinking about my future lol. Especially when I think about moving. Thank you again though and I will definitely be searching for and reading those threads!

 

[Akulahawk]

Since you must leave Florida soon, I would suggest you look far and wide for BSN programs and not just Colorado. Since you're going to be paying out-of-state tuition anywhere you go, you might as well find a very good BSN program in an area where you're likely to find work soon after graduation. Then when you're clearly NOT a brand-new grad and have <1 year as an RN, look to transfer. You'll still be quite new but you'll have gotten past the worst part of the steep learning curve. Just my 2 bits.

 

[Qulevrius]

Regarding ADN vs BSN, in CA specifically - if a nursing candidate can choose between a community college-offered ADN and a university-offered BSN, it's better to get on with the ADN programme. The main reason is that during their clinicals, the students will have a solid chance to establish themselves with the facility/department they'll intern with. Once that happens and the rapport is good, it's quite easy to apply with the same facility/department once they pass the NCLEX. Bridging from ADN to BSN is easy as pie (provided they already have the missing prereqs done), there are several hybrid/online options, they can work while earning their degree and, in general, it's less stressful. Not to mention the competition level and the tuition fees. The only significant downside to choosing ADN over BSN is that most of the community college-based ADN programmes in CA, are using a lottery to draw from the candidates' pool. So, unless you're a black or brown male veteran, your chances of being admitted are seriously decreased.

 

[Agg04]

Regarding ADN vs BSN, in CA specifically - if a nursing candidate can choose between a community college-offered ADN and a university-offered BSN, it's better to get on with the ADN programme. The main reason is that during their clinicals, the students will have a solid chance to establish themselves with the facility/department they'll intern with. Once that happens and the rapport is good, it's quite easy to apply with the same facility/department once they pass the NCLEX. Bridging from ADN to BSN is easy as pie (provided they already have the missing prereqs done), there are several hybrid/online options, they can work while earning their degree and, in general, it's less stressful. Not to mention the competition level and the tuition fees. The only significant downside to choosing ADN over BSN is that most of the community college-based ADN programmes in CA, are using a lottery to draw from the candidates' pool. So, unless you're a black or brown male veteran, your chances of being admitted are seriously decreased.

Im a 25 yr old hispanic male who is a USN veteran. I might be going to california now lol

 

[Qulevrius]

Im a 25 yr old hispanic male who is a USN veteran. I might be going to california now lol

If you ever decide to make that mistake, make sure you get a phleb cert and your EMT reciprocity with Kommiefornia before you move. That way you can try and land an ER tech gig with one of the hospitals, which will a) make you more than a starvation paycheck and b) help you build your professional network for post-NCLEX.

 

[Agg04]

If you ever decide to make that mistake, make sure you get a phleb cert and your EMT reciprocity with Kommiefornia before you move. That way you can try and land an ER tech gig with one of the hospitals, which will a) make you more than a starvation paycheck and b) help you build your professional network for post-NCLEX.

Yeah, ive seen that reciprocity for everything in Cali is a pain in the ***. Ill keep this in the back of my mind for sure, I'm going to be getting my medic before i move anywhere, do i still need that phlebotomy cert for california if i have my EMT-P? Im pretty sure they don't even offer that anywhere near me.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Believe it or not I live in south Florida, not rural at all, and there is a big job market for RN's with only an ADN down here. Most of the people I know after passing the NCLEX had a job offer only a couple weeks later. Ive looked into nursing but I don't want to stay here in Florida. I want to move to Denver and I have contacted a few nurses/students who are out there and they say it is almost impossible to find a job with just an ADN after school unless you are already enrolled into a BSN program. I don't know why it varies so much but it does. I plan on working as a medic out there and finish my pre reqs and then apply to an ADN program shortly after. Im sure I will learn more about the job market when I actually move there, so things might change. Who knows.

It's called MAGNET.

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[Akulahawk]

Yeah, ive seen that reciprocity for everything in Cali is a pain in the ***. Ill keep this in the back of my mind for sure, I'm going to be getting my medic before i move anywhere, do i still need that phlebotomy cert for California if i have my EMT-P? Im pretty sure they don't even offer that anywhere near me.

Yes, you will need to get a Phlebotomy cert at the very least for California because California doesn't recognize Paramedic training as equivalent education for purposes of working as a CPT-1. I'm an RN and while technically my education in phlebotomy isn't equivalent either for being certified as a CPT-1, it's in my scope of practice so I would simply work as an RN and that would be sufficient for working in a lab. Of course I wouldn't be hired for that job because I'm much too expensive. For "my" kind of money, a lab would be far better off hiring a CLS (Clinical Lab Scientist) and a CPT-1 or CPT-2.

Believe it or not I live in south Florida, not rural at all, and there is a big job market for RN's with only an ADN down here. Most of the people I know after passing the NCLEX had a job offer only a couple weeks later. Ive looked into nursing but I don't want to stay here in Florida. I want to move to Denver and I have contacted a few nurses/students who are out there and they say it is almost impossible to find a job with just an ADN after school unless you are already enrolled into a BSN program. I don't know why it varies so much but it does. I plan on working as a medic out there and finish my pre reqs and then apply to an ADN program shortly after. Im sure I will learn more about the job market when I actually move there, so things might change. Who knows.

It's called MAGNET.

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In order for a hospital to attain MAGNET status, they need to have 85% of RN staff be BSN educated or complete a BSN Program within 5 years. While I do hold a Bachelors Degree, it's not a nursing Bachelors so it wouldn't count for MAGNET purposes. When a facility is going for MAGNET status or needing to maintain that status, I would be counted as a non-BSN RN, even though I can use "BS, ADN, RN, EMTP" in my postnomials...

 

[Agg04]

Yes, you will need to get a Phlebotomy cert at the very least for California because California doesn't recognize Paramedic training as equivalent education for purposes of working as a CPT-1. I'm an RN and while technically my education in phlebotomy isn't equivalent either for being certified as a CPT-1, it's in my scope of practice so I would simply work as an RN and that would be sufficient for working in a lab. Of course I wouldn't be hired for that job because I'm much too expensive. For "my" kind of money, a lab would be far better off hiring a CLS (Clinical Lab Scientist) and a CPT-1 or CPT-2.


In order for a hospital to attain MAGNET status, they need to have 85% of RN staff be BSN educated or complete a BSN Program within 5 years. While I do hold a Bachelors Degree, it's not a nursing Bachelors so it wouldn't count for MAGNET purposes. When a facility is going for MAGNET status or needing to maintain that status, I would be counted as a non-BSN RN, even though I can use "BS, ADN, RN, EMTP" in my postnomials...

Interesting. Im learning a lot, which is why I joined the site. Im just trying to figure it out now so in the future I'm making enough money to be happy and doing a job I like. Im just seeking comfort, just like everyone else. This is all good information to keep in mind.

 

[Akulahawk]

Interesting. Im learning a lot, which is why I joined the site. Im just trying to figure it out now so in the future I'm making enough money to be happy and doing a job I like. Im just seeking comfort, just like everyone else. This is all good information to keep in mind.

I actually looked in to ways to get a CPT-1 certificate because I'm also a Paramedic. Short answer is that Paramedic doesn't qualify for lab purposes.

 

[MackTheKnife]

Makes you wonder why anyone bothers to move to, or live in, Kommiefornia.

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[Qulevrius]

Makes you wonder why anyone bothers to move to, or live in, Kommiefornia.

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Because snow, tornadoes and floods plain suck...


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[PAMOMTWINS]

One of the key things above:

This is regardless of degree earned. Getting your first job is hard if you have a BSN, and even harder if you only have an ADN. I'm fortunate in that I have always been an ED RN. That being said, it took me 8 months and a hospital 2 hours away to land my first job. When I got into nursing school, earning a BSN was not going to happen simply because at the time there were no programs that were open to 2nd Bachelors students that I could realistically attend. There was one accelerated Bachelors program but I would have been homeless by the end of the 1st Semester because their program wouldn't work well with my work schedule and my work schedule wasn't going to change on a weekly basis to allow me to attend that program.

I now have a job that's about 10 minutes from home and that took a little doing. That being said, I landed that job within 3 weeks of leaving my previous job and started about 3 weeks after that. All of my classmates landed jobs within a year, most within 4 months of graduation. Most of them work in Med/Surg, 4 of us work in the ED, and about the same number work in an ICU. The "shortage" you hear of in nursing isn't for new grads, it's for experienced nurses (2+ years) and if you have 5+ years, you're pretty much golden. However you still have to find your first job and that's where things get really difficult. It's going to take a while because there are still a number of ancient nurses that are still rebuilding their retirement portfolios after the 2008 crash and some that are still working that have excellent retirement that are afraid of the possibility of a crash sometime in the future. That means there's less turnover than there used to be just 10 years ago. Eventually the pendulum will swing back but who knows how long that will take. The lucky ones will be the ones that graduate early in the hiring binge but eventually enough regular people will see the binge happening... and the pendulum will swing again. I've seen several of these cycles over the years.

I have BSN and suspended RN license due to DUI. Broke my back twice, got addicted to drugs. Clean for 7 years now, no alcohol either for 4 years. Have no desire to use drugs anymore - was prescribed percoset for kidney stone and could not tolerate it - threw up twice. The strongest pill I can take is Tylenol 3. Ibuprofen was much more effective, but I had stop it couple days before surgery. Flushed unused pills, tore up a script for Percocet.
The bottom line is that I still do not want to be dispensing drugs to the patients. Also, I had 2 back injuries and do not want to work on the floor unless it is ED or Maternity.
I looked into options and realized that to be a camp nurse or work at Urgent Care Center I need to have an experience working in ED or EMT certification.
My license is still suspended, I am waiting for hearing. Wanted to start EMT classes, but nkt sure I am eligible.

 

[Akulahawk]

I have BSN and suspended RN license due to DUI. Broke my back twice, got addicted to drugs. Clean for 7 years now, no alcohol either for 4 years. Have no desire to use drugs anymore - was prescribed percoset for kidney stone and could not tolerate it - threw up twice. The strongest pill I can take is Tylenol 3. Ibuprofen was much more effective, but I had stop it couple days before surgery. Flushed unused pills, tore up a script for Percocet.
The bottom line is that I still do not want to be dispensing drugs to the patients. Also, I had 2 back injuries and do not want to work on the floor unless it is ED or Maternity.
I looked into options and realized that to be a camp nurse or work at Urgent Care Center I need to have an experience working in ED or EMT certification.
My license is still suspended, I am waiting for hearing. Wanted to start EMT classes, but nkt sure I am eligible.

Good to read more of your story on this. I suspect that while your RN license is suspended, any EMT certifying entity would likely be reluctant to certify you for EMT until your RN license suspension is lifted. Only they will be able to tell you if they can or not. Being an RN and working in the ED is going to generally require that you be able to dispense prescribed drugs to patients, hopefully from a Pyxis or Omnicel or similar device. As a camp nurse, you'll also have to dispense medications to your campers... so that's another issue, though hopefully the campers won't be bringing narcotics along.

I work in an ED and I do a fair amount of physical lifting and moving of patients and you'll encounter some of that if you work Maternity, especially if the "moms" are on spinal blocks. As an EMT, you'll do even more physical moving of patients... so get strong, be careful about your body mechanics, and check out all your options before you jump back into healthcare.

 

[PAMOMTWINS]

Good to read more of your story on this. I suspect that while your RN license is suspended, any EMT certifying entity would likely be reluctant to certify you for EMT until your RN license suspension is lifted. Only they will be able to tell you if they can or not. Being an RN and working in the ED is going to generally require that you be able to dispense prescribed drugs to patients, hopefully from a Pyxis or Omnicel or similar device. As a camp nurse, you'll also have to dispense medications to your campers... so that's another issue, though hopefully the campers won't be bringing narcotics along.

I work in an ED and I do a fair amount of physical lifting and moving of patients and you'll encounter some of that if you work Maternity, especially if the "moms" are on spinal blocks. As an EMT, you'll do even more physical moving of patients... so get strong, be careful about your body mechanics, and check out all your options before you jump back into healthcare.

Well...I always wanted to work either in ED or an Urgent Care. I am pretty familiar with the lifting required, but ED usually has couple strong men to help with lifting. As far as I remember, it is fast-paced, there is very little chance of having a patient on dilaudid at regular intervals. First 6 months after reinstatement I won't be allowed to dispense any narcs. My ultimate goal is to become a NP and work in an Urgent Care. I am not planning to work as a Paramedic, but I need that experience to be safe as a camp nurse or an adventure nurse. I love to travel, and these adventure groups often need a nurse. But they won't accept anyone without at least EMT certification.
In my college days I had traveled as a cook. It is too hard to do now and they have all kind of regulations - it is complicated. Besides, nurse has more freedom at camp.
I wanted to start EMT course thus summer or in the Fall. G-d knows when they will finally schedule a hearing. Meanwhile, I have to keep calling for my random drug tests (they are not cheap at all!) and attend NA/AA meetings.
So, the question is not if I can get certified NOW, but would they let me to begin studying? I am a fast learner, had graduated with BSN cum laude despite having toddler twins at home. Passed my NCLEX with flying colors in 40 min.
I must say that you are absolutely right about being in school and work as an EMT at the same time. When I started to work as an RN, I tried to take classes toward my NP degree. Felt absolutely stupid.
Thanks for answering.
And no, I did not divert any drugs from patients.

 

[VFlutter]

Depending on your state and job market you may be at a big disadvantage being a NP and potentially not being able to obtain a DEA number.

 

[PAMOMTWINS]

What is DEA number?