There has been a long, and brutal debate between people who view paramedics and RN's to be duly qualified to perform each other's occupations. I see the concerns from both parties, but I want to provide an insight into the understated elements of an Rn, or paramedic embarking into the other's field of work.
First off, neither RN or paramedic should ever be able to assume one another's job without specific training in the field. A paramedic will be missing too much in depth pathophysiology, and pharmacology. A nurse would be missing too much ems operational knowledge, and too many emergency-specific procedures. A paramedic is not trained in perineal care, or med-surgical skills. A nurse is not typically trained in pericardiocentesis, RSI, or emergency response.
Nonetheless, both parties can be valuable players in transitioning into the either field. A nurse can become a Pre-hospital nurse, and operate at the paramedic level in Pennsylvania by:
-taking the NREMT-P practical, written for paramedic, and becoming certified as an EMT-B.
-In NJ, a RN can become a Mobile intensive care nurse by becoming an EMT-B, and accepting a paramedic program field internship in which one learns intubations, and other ALS procedures.
-In the PA model, it is not feasible for one to become a PHRN without taking a multiple month skill practice course, and doing field internship. (Unless one is already an NREMT-P, and a nurse)
A paramedic can become a RN by taking a paramedic to rn bridge course. These community college-based programs allow a paramedic who fulfills nursing pre-requisites of nursing, like having completed microbiology and anatomy to shave off up to a year of a 2 year associate rn program.
When we have the discussion if both professions are equivalent, the answer is no.
-But we cannot deny that there are many overlapping skills, and responsibilities.
-The existence of viable transition programs speaks for itself. People need to realize that the professions are not antagonistic, and can be educationally symbiotic for interested students.
First off, neither RN or paramedic should ever be able to assume one another's job without specific training in the field. A paramedic will be missing too much in depth pathophysiology, and pharmacology. A nurse would be missing too much ems operational knowledge, and too many emergency-specific procedures. A paramedic is not trained in perineal care, or med-surgical skills. A nurse is not typically trained in pericardiocentesis, RSI, or emergency response.
Nonetheless, both parties can be valuable players in transitioning into the either field. A nurse can become a Pre-hospital nurse, and operate at the paramedic level in Pennsylvania by:
-taking the NREMT-P practical, written for paramedic, and becoming certified as an EMT-B.
-In NJ, a RN can become a Mobile intensive care nurse by becoming an EMT-B, and accepting a paramedic program field internship in which one learns intubations, and other ALS procedures.
-In the PA model, it is not feasible for one to become a PHRN without taking a multiple month skill practice course, and doing field internship. (Unless one is already an NREMT-P, and a nurse)
A paramedic can become a RN by taking a paramedic to rn bridge course. These community college-based programs allow a paramedic who fulfills nursing pre-requisites of nursing, like having completed microbiology and anatomy to shave off up to a year of a 2 year associate rn program.
When we have the discussion if both professions are equivalent, the answer is no.
-But we cannot deny that there are many overlapping skills, and responsibilities.
-The existence of viable transition programs speaks for itself. People need to realize that the professions are not antagonistic, and can be educationally symbiotic for interested students.
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