EMT-I or BSN

[shattered0glass]

Okay, I'm currently an EMT-B and a, soon-to-be, high school graduate. I need to know the following: Should I go to a 4 year college and get my BSN (to work in an ER and later become an anesthetist) or should I go to a 2 year college for a year and a half and get my EMT-Intermediate Certification? If I do the latter, I can work at a hospital which will pay for my college, currently no hospitals around this area hire EMT-Basics. My mind is leaning towards the EMT-Intermediate due to the fact that I can be either 1) $15,000 in debt or 2) $125,000 in debt. I would like to know your opinions on this matter. .

 

[VentMedic]

Get a CNA and/or Phlebotomy cert. Many hospitals will pay at least part of your education and work with your schedule if you say you "want to be a nurse". There are also plenty of scholarships that can be applied for as a nursing student especially if you are working for a hospital.

Unless you want to be a Paramedic and make EMS your profession, you will probably be wasting your time with the EMT-I.

 

[JPINFV]

Are you going to work as an EMT-I until you get enough money to pay cash for your BSN or is it going to be $15k + 125K - [wage while working as an EMT-I]?

Have you considered the oppertunity cost of what you won't be making as a BSN/CRNA while working towards your EMT-I?

 

[LucidResq]

I agree with Vent. Get some other kind of cert that will get you hired in the hospital. You should definitely start working towards your BSN as soon as possible, but nursing programs are extremely competitive and usually perfect grades aren't enough. Most of the ones I've looked in to want prior experience. Unless your area is drastically different than mine, EMT-Is are not much more hire-able than EMT-Bs, and you'll be better off with a CNA and/or phleb, an MA cert, or something of the sort. There is so much that a CNA/tech/other lowly hospital pt care provider does that you do not learn in EMT school. I say this as someone who got my EMT in HS and is working through college (BSN pre-reqs) at a PACU as a patient care tech among other locations. Keep in mind though, I got really lucky and it is uncommon for someone with an EMT or even EMT-I to work in this sort of position, I've never seen it. Even most of the ER techs around here are EMTs and CNAs or nursing students.

You do not learn how to assist ADLs, work with foleys, or make a bed in EMT school and this stuff is the bread and butter of low-level hospital work and the fundamentals of nursing care in general. This is why I'm currently finishing up my CNA. I have heard lots of BSN preceptors and clinical instructors complain that their BSN students are coming to them better educated than years past, but less able to perform basic tasks such as the ones I mentioned above.

There are indeed some awesome scholarship programs at hospitals for nursing. Usually, they will pay for all or most of nursing school if you sign a contract to work for them as an RN for 2+ years.

 

[firecoins]

go to college, become $125,000 in bebt and pay it off as a BSN. This is the way to go.

 

[Motojunkie]

Go to college. The later you put it off, the harder it becomes to finish it.

 

[TransportJockey]

BSN... And why the :censored::censored::censored::censored: will it take a year and a half to upgrade to EMT-I?

 

[MrBrown]

BSN... And why ...will it take a year and a half to upgrade to EMT-I?

+1 good sir B)

 

[Veneficus]

go to college, become $125,000 in bebt and pay it off as a BSN. This is the way to go.

If you spend $125K to get a BSN you are a fool, I hope you meant that was for the CRNA degree!

 

[TransportJockey]

If you spend $125K to get a BSN you are a fool, I hope you meant that was for the CRNA degree!

And spending 15k on just EMT-I wouldn't be foolish?

 

[JPINFV]

Don't forget that these numbers might be including living expenses on top of tuition costs.

 

[Veneficus]

And spending 15k on just EMT-I wouldn't be foolish?

Even more so.

Infact spending more than 5K on Paramedic would be extraordinarily foolish.

 

[Veneficus]

Don't forget that these numbers might be including living expenses on top of tuition costs.

For less than 125K you could come here, live in the middle class and get an MD if you pass the entrance test.

 

[JPINFV]

Yea... but then you also have to fight harder for a US residency as an IMG instead of an AMG. It might not be nearly as bad as the Carb students, but it's still isn't going to be cake.

 

[Veneficus]

Yea... but then you also have to fight harder for a US residency as an IMG instead of an AMG. It might not be nearly as bad as the Carb students, but it's still isn't going to be cake.

Nothing is ever easy.

But don't buy into propaganda. If you can't do well on a board, you will have a hard time no matter where you are from. A high score opens doors.

There is also the bonus of getting to choose more than the US for both specialization and practice.

(and you can apply for residency without match)

 

[JPINFV]

(and you can apply for residency without match)

Although rare, that option is open to DOs participating in the MD match as well...

 

[alphatrauma]

Future Agenda?

And spending 15k on just EMT-I wouldn't be foolish?

Even more so... considering that by the time the OP finishes the program, the Intermediate level probably won't even be recognized anymore.

 

[CAOX3]

Where the heck does it cost 125 grand to get a bachelors degree?

In my area they still recognise the I level.

 

[MrBrown]

Infact spending more than 5K on Paramedic would be extraordinarily foolish.

Heck it's like a grand and 12 weeks down in Texas, man that's value for money right there!

Oh and my Bachelors Degree cost me ten grand

 

[firecoins]

where the heck does it cost 125 grand to get a bachelors degree?

In my area they still recognise the i level.

nyu