Parama-dick
Forum Ride Along
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Has anyone done the nursing bridge program? How did it go? Was it what you expected? I am considering it next fall but I haven't decided what to do.
Medic to RN?
- Thread starter Parama-dick
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So based on your other posts, you are already questioning your competency as a paramedic, and now you want to go through a cheesey (more than likely) bridge program into a very different career where you will almost definitely also question your competency?
Seriously, and no offense meant, perhaps you need to stop and really think about what it is you want to do, where you are now, and what you need to do to accomplish your goals.
reaper
Working Bum
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Most college based bridge programs in FL only skip the first semester of RN school. You need more time getting confidence as a provider. You're letting others tank your confidence, will not help you in RN school!
AJ Hidell
Forum Deputy Chief
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I can't speak specifically to his area, however I have generally observed that it is quicker to get into a bridge program than into a traditional program, simply because there are far fewer qualified applicants. Of all the medics out there, only a small percentage want to go on to nursing school. And an even smaller percentage have the aptitude or commitment to ever finish the nursing school prerequisites, even if they want to be a nurse. The resulting pool of applicants is usually pretty small.
That said, I am certainly not recommending the bridge route to the OP. The first semester of nursing school is what paramedics need most, because otherwise they come into nursing with their heads totally screwed on backwards. Making a good paramedic out of a nurse is easy. Making a good nurse out of a paramedic is almost harder than making one from scratch. And when they get to nursing, it's easy to tell the ones who went to real nursing schools from the ones who took shortcuts. It might as well be tattooed on their foreheads.
That said, I am certainly not recommending the bridge route to the OP. The first semester of nursing school is what paramedics need most, because otherwise they come into nursing with their heads totally screwed on backwards. Making a good paramedic out of a nurse is easy. Making a good nurse out of a paramedic is almost harder than making one from scratch. And when they get to nursing, it's easy to tell the ones who went to real nursing schools from the ones who took shortcuts. It might as well be tattooed on their foreheads.
Many of the colleges don't have special classes just for Paramedics. They are usually allowed a few credits for the introductory classes and are then blended with the other nursing students. There is time and class size allowance made for the LPN and Paramedic students. However, the amount of Paramedics that actually graduate from nursing is not that large. There many Paramedics that still boast they went through nursing school when Excelsior was still accepted but most are now initial only nurses if that.
If you lack the confidence as a Paramedic and especially if you graduated from a medic mill, you don't need to be taking shortcuts.
If you had graduated from a college program, you should already be familiar with the credits your EMT-P cert will get you for a nursing program.
If you lack the confidence as a Paramedic and especially if you graduated from a medic mill, you don't need to be taking shortcuts.
If you had graduated from a college program, you should already be familiar with the credits your EMT-P cert will get you for a nursing program.
Aidey
Community Leader Emeritus
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I don't know much about the programs personally, but didn't Rid go through a bridge program to get his RN?
Ridryder911
EMS Guru
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I went through one of the first bridge programs about 20 years ago. I agree, the only thing short was they removed the first semester; which in fact is misleading. They still require you to attend "pre-nursing" course; which in fact is Nursing 101. Also they require you to "test or clep" out a semester, so in fact you really go longer than some traditional students.
I agree, one should have the least of three to five years working in a nursing unit or similar before attempting such a program. My experience was unusual, I had worked in various parts of the hospital (usually very rural) in which we performed nursing duties as well. This aided me in being prepared, although I will be the first to admit that if you take any short cut; you will only pay for it somewhere down the line.
As well, I returned later and obtained my BSN.
I assist in teaching some bridge programs. They have their place but don't expect an "accelerated" anything, only to catch up on understanding the process.
There are no short cuts in life, and especially medicine. Face it, if you want to be a good provider, just do it the right the first time and you will have no regrets.
R/r 911
I agree, one should have the least of three to five years working in a nursing unit or similar before attempting such a program. My experience was unusual, I had worked in various parts of the hospital (usually very rural) in which we performed nursing duties as well. This aided me in being prepared, although I will be the first to admit that if you take any short cut; you will only pay for it somewhere down the line.
As well, I returned later and obtained my BSN.
I assist in teaching some bridge programs. They have their place but don't expect an "accelerated" anything, only to catch up on understanding the process.
There are no short cuts in life, and especially medicine. Face it, if you want to be a good provider, just do it the right the first time and you will have no regrets.
R/r 911
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8jimi8
CFRN
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All of the important medical / surgical patho and nursing skills were in my first semester.
emergency, disaster and critical care nursing were all in my last semester.
I'm just finishing up and associate degree RN program... here in T minus 3 weeks.
as a paramedic you will have some advantages in that you are already great at assessing patients, already have some of your skills and procedures wired, and already know what to do if someone is coding on you, but that is really the smallest part of nursing. The most important part of nursing is critical thinking about the pathophysiology of your patients health issues. Knowing how the disease process is affecting your patient and how to best advocate for them. Nursing isn't load and go, its assess, intervene, and re-evaluate your plan of care.
emergency, disaster and critical care nursing were all in my last semester.
I'm just finishing up and associate degree RN program... here in T minus 3 weeks.
as a paramedic you will have some advantages in that you are already great at assessing patients, already have some of your skills and procedures wired, and already know what to do if someone is coding on you, but that is really the smallest part of nursing. The most important part of nursing is critical thinking about the pathophysiology of your patients health issues. Knowing how the disease process is affecting your patient and how to best advocate for them. Nursing isn't load and go, its assess, intervene, and re-evaluate your plan of care.
AJ Hidell
Forum Deputy Chief
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I have actually found all of those to present drawbacks in the nursing education process. First, very few paramedics are actually great at patient assessments. And they certainly have no clue about the patient assessments expected of a nurse. Second, having all those procedures wired makes it harder to teach you the right way to do things, because doing things the half-baked EMS way has become a habit. And third, jumping in and doing what you are used to doing in a code will get you quickly fired as a new nurse, much less as a student.
Those are just three of the many reasons why it is harder to make a good nurse out of a medic than from the non-experienced student. 8jimi8 is absolutely right. Nursing is not about "skills", it is about knowledge and understanding. And going into nursing with the EMS skills-based mentality prevents EMTs and medics from developing quickly in nursing. That is why attending a traditional program is the much better route for education.