Paramedic vs RN

[proctorologist]

Mind you I'm looking at things from the medicolegal aspect of it noting the weight of stare decisis as to the federal opinions such that it merely seems to be a rather obvious take on it., though not necessarily correct.

 

[ffemt8978]

Mind you I'm looking at things from the medicolegal aspect of it noting the weight of stare decisis as to the federal opinions such that it merely seems to be a rather obvious take on it., though not necessarily correct.

Are you taking into consideration the amount of time that has passed since these threads were started and you deciding to show up and apply "medicolegal" analysis, because things may have been held to a different standard back then. That's a danger with necroposting...what you think now may not have been the standard back then.

 

[Akulahawk]

Interesting, as based upon my research the federal courts view the RN license as superior to a paramedic license under Daubert v. Merril Dow Pharm. - such that the states really have nothing to say about it.

I wouldn't say that's entirely correct. A paramedic is a specialist in prehospital care. Most RN's aren't. If an RN were to testify about prehospital care, that would require an extensive exam into that RN's education, training, and experience specifically in the area of prehospital care to determine if that RN is, in fact, an expert in prehospital care. The same could be said about a paramedic testifying about ED/In-hospital care.

There is a reason why EMS systems limit most RNs to a scope roughly that of an Emergency Medical Responder if they intervene in the prehospital care of a patient. As a paramedic, if some random RN shows up on scene and tries to take over, I have full authority to kick that RN off my scene. The PHRN (all flavors of them) can only perform those skills and interventions specifically authorized for them. Some PHRNs may only function with the identical scope as a Paramedic in that same situation.

I'm also transport RN. My scope of practice when transporting patients in that role greatly exceeds that of most paramedics. I do not normally play in the 911 system. In the event of a disaster significant enough to pull me into the 911 system, I may use my full scope. Otherwise, I do BLS and hand-off to a 911 system unit.

 

[Akulahawk]

an RN has their own state-level scope set by each state plus mandatory ACLS certs.

This is only a partially true statement. Each state sets a basic scope of practice for the RN, that part is true. Attaining an ACLS certification is not typically necessary for RN licensure. It may be necessary for practice in a given specialty as an RN, but this would be above and beyond basic RN licensure. The NCLEX exam does not have ACLS certification as a prerequisite.

 

[proctorologist]

This is only a partially true statement. Each state sets a basic scope of practice for the RN, that part is true. Attaining an ACLS certification is not typically necessary for RN licensure. It may be necessary for practice in a given specialty as an RN, but this would be above and beyond basic RN licensure. The NCLEX exam does not have ACLS certification as a prerequisite.

The NCLEX has ACLS built into it as a portion of the test battery.

 

[ffemt8978]

The NCLEX has ACLS built into it as a portion of the test battery.

You do realize there's a huge difference between testing on ACLS and requiring ACLS certification, correct?

 

[Akulahawk]

The NCLEX has ACLS built into it as a portion of the test battery.

Actually, NCLEX may seem to have ACLS baked into it but one does not need to know ACLS to pass it. The two exams are built very differently. I cannot get much more specific as to content of the NCLEX as there's effectively an NDA in place about the actual exam.

Just know that also ACLS can change more rapidly than the NCLEX can.

 

[CCCSD]

You do realize there's a huge difference between testing on ACLS and requiring ACLS certification, correct?

He does not.