Continuing education advice welcome

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strider873

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Greetings,

I will be completing an associate's degree program resulting in my NREMT-P certification this spring. Although I am new to the paramedic world, I have been working in EMS for several years, and I realize that at some point in my life, I want to be a flight paramedic. (Yes, I have had 400+ hours of field clinic training at the paramedic level, and I am aware of the rigors and detriments to this profession. But, paramedicine is what I want to do with my life, so please don't try and convince me to go to PA school instead.)

I am aware that several years of street medic experience is needed before you would even be considered for a flight paramedic job... However, 5 to 10 years goes by in a flash, and I'm looking at how best to prepare myself for the next step toward my carrier goal when the time is right.

I have the opportunity to start a second 2 year associate's degree program resulting in my RN in the fall of 2011.

My question is this: How important is it to achieve my RN in order to become a flight paramedic? Would having my RN make me more employable?? Or would I be better served taking my NALS and ATLS certs? Is the RN certification a valuable/necessary stepping stone to becoming a flight medic?

For those of you who have been down this road before, if you could give me some direction and advise, I will repay you by being a worthy future guardian of the profession you have put so much of your time and energy into.

Thank you very much in advance.
 
strider873 said:
Greetings,

I will be completing an associate's degree program resulting in my NREMT-P certification this spring. Although I am new to the paramedic world, I have been working in EMS for several years, and I realize that at some point in my life, I want to be a flight paramedic. (Yes, I have had 400+ hours of field clinic training at the paramedic level, and I am aware of the rigors and detriments to this profession. But, paramedicine is what I want to do with my life, so please don't try and convince me to go to PA school instead.)

I am aware that several years of street medic experience is needed before you would even be considered for a flight paramedic job... However, 5 to 10 years goes by in a flash, and I'm looking at how best to prepare myself for the next step toward my carrier goal when the time is right.

I have the opportunity to start a second 2 year associate's degree program resulting in my RN in the fall of 2011.

My question is this: How important is it to achieve my RN in order to become a flight paramedic? Would having my RN make me more employable?? Or would I be better served taking my NALS and ATLS certs? Is the RN certification a valuable/necessary stepping stone to becoming a flight medic?

For those of you who have been down this road before, if you could give me some direction and advise, I will repay you by being a worthy future guardian of the profession you have put so much of your time and energy into.

Thank you very much in advance.
Click to expand...

It all depends on the service you are applying too. Some services, like mine require you to be first and foremost an RN and to have an EMT-IV or Paramedic license on top of that. Other services, just want you to have your EMT-P with several years experience in a high-volume 911 system. Regardless of which one they want, they will all want ACLS, PALS, BLS.

For RN's, they will either require you to have or to obtain within 1 year, one of the following specialty certifications:

CFRN, CCRN, or CEN

For Paramedics, they will either require you to have or to obtain within one year, one of the following specialty certifications:

FP-C, cc/EMT-P

While an RN may not always be required, I will guarantee you that if you are up against a competent RN/Paramedic as just a Paramedic with equal years experience, they will pick the RN/Paramedic 99% of the time if not 100%.

With regard to ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, NALS, etc.. It is not the certs themselves that make you competitive, they want instructorships. One of our duties is community EMS education. Therefore, they expect you to be able to teach CEU's for hosted, "EMS Night Outs", etc.

They will also look for individuals who are in good physical condition with an understanding of the rigors of flight and a fundamental understanding of the effects altitude can play in human physiology (this will be covered in FP-C, Critical Care -P, CFRN, and CCRN). Also, Air medicine is one of the few jobs where you can be turned down on the basis of your weight. Weight is such an important factor when it comes to helicopters that fuel for them is not measured in gallons as we measure it in cars. The fuel is measured in lbs. Your waist size will have to be such that you can safely fit into your safety harness in the chopper, and must be within the operating limits set forth by the manufacturer, or else you might have to apply for fixed-wing as opposed to rotor-wing.

One way to become truly competitive is to work with a 911 service for a bit in a metropolitan area, then get your cc/EMT-P and work for a few years in critical care ground transport. This will help you greatly, especially if the CCT surface team you are working with is operated by the same company you are applying for a flight position with.

Hope that helps, good luck.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
strider873 said:
Greetings,

I will be completing an associate's degree program resulting in my NREMT-P certification this spring. Although I am new to the paramedic world, I have been working in EMS for several years, and I realize that at some point in my life, I want to be a flight paramedic. (Yes, I have had 400+ hours of field clinic training at the paramedic level, and I am aware of the rigors and detriments to this profession. But, paramedicine is what I want to do with my life, so please don't try and convince me to go to PA school instead.)

I am aware that several years of street medic experience is needed before you would even be considered for a flight paramedic job... However, 5 to 10 years goes by in a flash, and I'm looking at how best to prepare myself for the next step toward my carrier goal when the time is right.

I have the opportunity to start a second 2 year associate's degree program resulting in my RN in the fall of 2011.

My question is this: How important is it to achieve my RN in order to become a flight paramedic? Would having my RN make me more employable?? Or would I be better served taking my NALS and ATLS certs? Is the RN certification a valuable/necessary stepping stone to becoming a flight medic?

For those of you who have been down this road before, if you could give me some direction and advise, I will repay you by being a worthy future guardian of the profession you have put so much of your time and energy into.

Thank you very much in advance.
Click to expand...

Being an RN will make you more employable, period. If at some point you decide paramedicine is not for you (and you may very well), having the RN will give you a wealth of other options. In the CCT field specifically, nurses are harder to find as well as being paid higher wages.

IF (big if) you can see yourself as a bedside nurse. I can't, so I'm looking at other options.
 
strider873 said:
Greetings,

I will be completing an associate's degree program resulting in my NREMT-P certification this spring. Although I am new to the paramedic world, I have been working in EMS for several years, and I realize that at some point in my life, I want to be a flight paramedic. (Yes, I have had 400+ hours of field clinic training at the paramedic level, and I am aware of the rigors and detriments to this profession. But, paramedicine is what I want to do with my life, so please don't try and convince me to go to PA school instead.)

I am aware that several years of street medic experience is needed before you would even be considered for a flight paramedic job... However, 5 to 10 years goes by in a flash, and I'm looking at how best to prepare myself for the next step toward my carrier goal when the time is right.

I have the opportunity to start a second 2 year associate's degree program resulting in my RN in the fall of 2011.

My question is this: How important is it to achieve my RN in order to become a flight paramedic? Would having my RN make me more employable?? Or would I be better served taking my NALS and ATLS certs? Is the RN certification a valuable/necessary stepping stone to becoming a flight medic?

For those of you who have been down this road before, if you could give me some direction and advise, I will repay you by being a worthy future guardian of the profession you have put so much of your time and energy into.

Thank you very much in advance.
Click to expand...

I say go for it! Nursing can only make you more employable..in more than one arena. Get more of the advanced Medic courses whenever you can fit them in as well. Then there are PESI seminars, which aren't cheap. They do some really good nursing seminars on various subjects in which I have always found helpful. Some are on line, some can be bought and many are local at different times of the year. Congrats and good luck.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
usalsfyre said:
Being an RN will make you more employable, period. If at some point you decide paramedicine is not for you (and you may very well), having the RN will give you a wealth of other options. In the CCT field specifically, nurses are harder to find as well as being paid higher wages.

IF (big if) you can see yourself as a bedside nurse. I can't, so I'm looking at other options.
Click to expand...

Ever thought of doing critical care surface transports or fixed wing?
 
medicRob said:
It all depends on the service you are applying too. Some services, like mine require you to be first and foremost an RN and to have an EMT-IV or Paramedic license on top of that. Other services, just want you to have your EMT-P with several years experience in a high-volume 911 system. Regardless of which one they want, they will all want ACLS, PALS, BLS.

For RN's, they will either require you to have or to obtain within 1 year, one of the following specialty certifications:

CFRN, CCRN, or CEN

For Paramedics, they will either require you to have or to obtain within one year, one of the following specialty certifications:

FP-C, cc/EMT-P

While an RN may not always be required, I will guarantee you that if you are up against a competent RN/Paramedic as just a Paramedic with equal years experience, they will pick the RN/Paramedic 99% of the time if not 100%.

With regard to ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, NALS, etc.. It is not the certs themselves that make you competitive, they want instructorships. One of our duties is community EMS education. Therefore, they expect you to be able to teach CEU's for hosted, "EMS Night Outs", etc.

They will also look for individuals who are in good physical condition with an understanding of the rigors of flight and a fundamental understanding of the effects altitude can play in human physiology (this will be covered in FP-C, Critical Care -P, CFRN, and CCRN). Also, Air medicine is one of the few jobs where you can be turned down on the basis of your weight. Weight is such an important factor when it comes to helicopters that fuel for them is not measured in gallons as we measure it in cars. The fuel is measured in lbs. Your waist size will have to be such that you can safely fit into your safety harness in the chopper, and must be within the operating limits set forth by the manufacturer, or else you might have to apply for fixed-wing as opposed to rotor-wing.

One way to become truly competitive is to work with a 911 service for a bit in a metropolitan area, then get your cc/EMT-P and work for a few years in critical care ground transport. This will help you greatly, especially if the CCT surface team you are working with is operated by the same company you are applying for a flight position with.

Hope that helps, good luck.
Click to expand...


medicRob, thank you for taking the time to provide this good information.

So in your estimation, which would be more valuable: My EMT-P and RN, or my EMT-P and a bachelor's degree in emergency medicine? Would they still choose the RN/NRP combination? What would you do if you were in my position right now, considering that clearly entering another 2 year degree program would limit the number of hours I could work as a street medic for a time?

I'm planning on working for a ground ambulance around the surrounding Boston, MA area. I don't foresee any physical condition problems, I'm 178 lbs and 6' 1''....... From what research I have done, most places do not have height restrictions.

Thank you very much once again sir.
 
medicRob said:
Ever thought of doing critical care surface transports or fixed wing?
Click to expand...

I would love to do fixed wing or ground CCT. Unfortunately, there's not any services that do those in this area, and my wife is happy at her job and makes more money (yes, I have a sugar momma ^_^) . As a result, I'm looking for the right opportunity to go back to HEMS (I refuse to go into a low rent situation again) or seriously, seriously looking into RRT school.
 
Why not FFL, usalfyre? Then you wont have to leave and you can be my rescue-medic guy! Swoop in and let me use that glidescope!
 
strider873 said:
medicRob, thank you for taking the time to provide this good information.

So in your estimation, which would be more valuable: My EMT-P and RN, or my EMT-P and a bachelor's degree in emergency medicine? Would they still choose the RN/NRP combination? What would you do if you were in my position right now, considering that clearly entering another 2 year degree program would limit the number of hours I could work as a street medic for a time?

I'm planning on working for a ground ambulance around the surrounding Boston, MA area. I don't foresee any physical condition problems, I'm 178 lbs and 6' 1''....... From what research I have done, most places do not have height restrictions.

Thank you very much once again sir.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of a bachelors degree of emergency medicine. That major is usually reserved for a graduate program. Also, NRP is a certification (Neonatal Rescuscitation Program) not a degree or a licensure. Moreover, why would going back to school for 2 years limit your hours? I worked while attending full-time for each one of my degrees.

When I brought up RN/Paramedic, I was bringing up the fact that the service I fly with requires you to be an RN (Preferably BSN) and that on TOP OF THAT you must be a Paramedic or EMT-IV.. Therefore it is a "Flight Nursing" position, not a Flight Paramedic position. Other services might hire for Flight Paramedic, in which case one need only have an EMT-P licensure, the alphabet soup, and about a decade's experience in a high density urban 911 system.


Sure it is nice to have an RN, but make no mistake about it.. it will be quite possibly the 4 hardest years of your entire life.. You need to sit down and look at the websites for some of the services you are wanting to fly with in the future... Read their requirements for "Flight Nurse" and "Flight Medic"... read the duties of each, then make your decision.
 
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