My plan, how's it look to you?

[adamjh3]

Alright, so here is what I'm planning as far as my education, my goal is to become an RN and be a CCT nurse. What I'm looking for is suggestions anything that I could/should do differently, or perhaps what you would do if this were your goal.

Now - I have my Basic card and I'm looking for a job

2010 school year - Take pre-req A&P courses for Paramedic school + a pharmacology course (I'm going to get my EMT-P card FIRST so I can make a livable wage while going to Nursing school)

2011 - Paramedic school

2012 - work as single-role paramedic while taking pre-req courses for nursing school

20xx - Nursing school whenever I can get into one.

Again, I am looking for helpful criticism, not "you're a :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing dumbass," ...unless it is paired with good advice.

I am open to other positions than paramedic that would pay a livable wage, but I would like to stay in the EMS field as much as possible.

 

[usafmedic45]

You're a :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing dumb:censored::censored::censored: (no, just kidding, you're not and you know I think you're a good guy....I couldn't resist the joke though)

If the work schedule or the course work is going to delay or hurt your GPA, skip being a paramedic and just focus on nursing school. Work for several years as an ICU and ED nurse in a high volume hospital. That will do far more for you than a couple of years running as a paramedic.

 

[got_shoes]

Why not try education in RT or an OR tech, so maybe you will know if you want to work in a hospital. I have known a lot of medics who have left for the better pay and whatnot but they have come to realize that its not the same, meaning that hospitals are A LOT different then being out in the world, also something to consider is the fact that a lot of medics have standing orders where RN's need verbal or written orders from a doc. just trying to provide a different thought process. what ever you decide to do best of luck. B)

 

[atropine]

Stay open to those other options, as far as a single role medic making a livable in San diego good luck with that. other than that your plan looks good.

 

[Trayos]

If you can swing it while still in school, an internship at a local hospital which handles a large volume of ER calls could be beneficial, give you a new perspective (and possibly open up other routes for consideration)

 

[usafmedic45]

Why not try education in RT or an OR tech, so maybe you will know if you want to work in a hospital.

Because getting into an RT program will simply delay his goal of becoming an RN? Usuallly the waiting list for RT programs is nearly as long as it is for nursing programs. Here it is about a year for both.

I have known a lot of medics who have left for the better pay and whatnot but they have come to realize that its not the same, meaning that hospitals are A LOT different then being out in the world, also something to consider is the fact that a lot of medics have standing orders where RN's need verbal or written orders from a doc.

In a lot (not sure if it's "most" yet) hospitals, the RTs operate from protocol as well. The doc simply asks for an "RT consult" like they would if they were referring the patient to a cardiologist or surgeon and we figure out what need to be done. It's not true independent practice but it is more like what paramedics work under than the comparison of nurses and paramedics.

 

[LucidResq]

Another advantage to working in the hospital is that many will put you through nursing school. Occasionally you see medics working as ED techs, so I'm not say that's necessarily a bad route to go, but obviously you're more likely to get a job in the hospital (at least 'round these parts) as an RT, CNA, or some other kind of tech.

If you work at University Hospital out here, you can apply for a program in which they pay for all of your nursing school tuition at their top-notch BSN program and such, AND pay you as ithough you're working while you're in class. You just have to agree to work there for two years after you graduate. Now that is a sweet deal. Many other hospitals offer similar programs... not always so good, but most offer some tuition reimbursement at least.

 

[LucidResq]

Another thought - dispatchers get paid pretty darn well and you probably don't have to take any more classes... depends on your area and how competitive things are. A friend of mine attended school while working dispatch full-time for a medium-sized fairly busy city... he usually had plenty of time to study - obviously can't count on that because sometimes things get crazy but it was nice to have that down time.

Obvious disadvantage to that is you're not doing patient care.

 

[adamjh3]

You're a :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing dumb:censored::censored::censored: (no, just kidding, you're not and you know I think you're a good guy....I couldn't resist the joke though)

If the work schedule or the course work is going to delay or hurt your GPA, skip being a paramedic and just focus on nursing school. Work for several years as an ICU and ED nurse in a high volume hospital. That will do far more for you than a couple of years running as a paramedic.

You hurt my feelings, man. You need to call me a waaahmbulance.

On a serious note, I was that kid in high school that said "Eff this noise, when will I need this stuff?" and my transcript shows it. Aside from A's in all of my English and biology classes I have a hodge-podge of C's and D's. Based on the people that I know who have applied to and been turned away from several nursing schools several times I don't think I have much of a chance of getting in without some solid college courses behind me.

I am only 19 years old, and still live at home. My parents are pressing for me to get out on my own but I just do not make enough money to live here, even with room-mates.

Why not try education in RT or an OR tech, so maybe you will know if you want to work in a hospital. I have known a lot of medics who have left for the better pay and whatnot but they have come to realize that its not the same, meaning that hospitals are A LOT different then being out in the world, also something to consider is the fact that a lot of medics have standing orders where RN's need verbal or written orders from a doc. just trying to provide a different thought process. what ever you decide to do best of luck. B)

I don't want to work in a hospital, which is why I want to be a CCT nurse (Or MICU, maybe?)

Actually, now that I'm really thinking about it, I'm not positive what I want to do exists (flight is NOT an option for me, you won't catch me dead in one of those helicopters). I want to run calls, I want to work in the pre-hospital setting, but I want to be more than just a paramedic, I feel there's not enough education there.

 

[LucidResq]

I don't want to work in a hospital, which is why I want to be a CCT nurse (Or MICU, maybe?)

People with more inside wisdom than me, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the typical track for a CCT nurse is working in the ICU/ED/some kind of critical care floor of the hospital and then getting into transport - even if they have prehospital background. There's just stuff that you obviously don't learn in medic or nursing school that you learn on the floor.

I might be completely off here but I have a feeling that even if you had experience as a medic and your RN, they're not going to throw you on a CCT without at least some floor critical care experience as an RN.

 

[LucidResq]

Why not just be a well-educated, degree-d CC medic? Hell you know what would be really cool.... eventually go for the MPH EMT-P. If pay is of concern.... fire medics generally get paid as much or significantly more than RNs... atleast around here. Not sure what our CCT medics make.

 

[usafmedic45]

People with more inside wisdom than me, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the typical track for a CCT nurse is working in the ICU/ED/some kind of critical care floor of the hospital and then getting into transport - even if they have prehospital background.

Bingo. He just hit the nail on the head. Do not go to nursing school unless you want to be a nurse. Simple as that.

Based on the people that I know who have applied to and been turned away from several nursing schools several times I don't think I have much of a chance of getting in without some solid college courses behind me.

Then do it the traditional route. Do you pre-reqs and not worry about paramedic programs. A nursing program probably isn't going to look at a paramedic course as a "solid college course". Remember we are "unlicensed assistive personnel" to some of them, just like a CNA. Prove your mettle through taking (and I don't mean this the way it is going to sound) "real" courses. Get the non-technical stuff (general education and electives) for your degree out of the way.

 

[TransportJockey]

People with more inside wisdom than me, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the typical track for a CCT nurse is working in the ICU/ED/some kind of critical care floor of the hospital and then getting into transport - even if they have prehospital background. There's just stuff that you obviously don't learn in medic or nursing school that you learn on the floor.

I might be completely off here but I have a feeling that even if you had experience as a medic and your RN, they're not going to throw you on a CCT without at least some floor critical care experience as an RN.

At the hospital I worked at in NM that's the way it worked. To even be considered for CCT you had to have a minimum of 3-4 years high acuity (ICU) experience. For flight nursing you could have 3-4 years of ED nursing, but generally the flight nurses I know had 2-3 of ED and 3-4 or so of ICU to be eligible to be hired.

 

[TransportJockey]

Bingo. He just hit the nail on the head. Do not go to nursing school unless you want to be a nurse. Simple as that.

BTW I think Lucid's a 'SHE'

 

[LucidResq]

BTW I think Lucid's a 'SHE'

Ha I think he was referring to the OP... meaning he hit his own nail on the head...? lol :wacko:

Thanks for the recognition of female-ness, though. I might be wrong.

 

[adamjh3]

Hm. Well now I'm really second guessing myself. I worked with the director of Intermountain Fire/Rescue here in SD when I volunteered as an EMT for a local school function, and he offered me the chance to go to a free fire academy which I've been kind of mulling over. I've never been particularly interested in the fire side, y'know the whole running into burning buildings thing. Scene safety anyone? But he said the county pays the volunteers a stipend for each shift they work, and they hardly have any EMTs so I would get plenty of patient time. But then again, it's still fire, which I don't particularly care for. And on the other hand, Fire's where the money is for Medics here.

Now you guys have me arguing with myself. Thank you. (Sincere thanks, not sarcastic, it's good to have opinions and options bouncing around up there)

 

[usafmedic45]

Ha I think he was referring to the OP... meaning he hit his own nail on the head...? lol :wacko:

Thanks for the recognition of female-ness, though. I might be wrong.

No, I got his point that I forgot you're a woman. LOL

 

[usafmedic45]

I've never been particularly interested in the fire side, y'know the whole running into burning buildings thing. Scene safety anyone?

It's safe, so long as you keep your wits about you and know (and abide by) the limits. It's addictive as hell once you start doing it. I miss crawling into burning buildings.

he offered me the chance to go to a free fire academy which I've been kind of mulling over.

Rule #2: Never turn down free training from a reputable source.

Thank you. (Sincere thanks, not sarcastic, it's good to have opinions and options bouncing around up there)

You're welcome.

 

[adamjh3]

And rule number 1?

 

[usafmedic45]

And rule number 1?

My safety before anything else.