Presently a PCA would I benefit from EMT classes?

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Zalan

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Presently, I work in Ortho/Med unit as a PCA(Tech). Which has the glorius job duties of wiping butts, turning patents, taking vitals, Cathing ppl, EKG`s, Enemas, & other varours minor things. I`ve only been a Tech for about 2 1/2 months.

I was wondering do you think I could benefit from EMT-B classes? In general I like to learn. & eventually plan on becomeing a LPN. This will take awhile because of a few educational set backs. However, presently I could take EMT-B classes in late August. If I start working over time, & saving. Probable looking at about $1000 for EMT-B classes including books.

Do you think EMT classes could help increase my ability of Patent Care? or Payrate?
 
Zalan said:
Do you think EMT classes could help increase my ability of Patent Care? or Payrate?
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No and no. Complete waste of time and money that would be relevant only if you planned to be a paramedic, or wanted to move to the ER as a tech, at some hospital that required EMT. And even if you planned to be a paramedic, the best plan would be to finish nursing school first.
 
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Zalan said:
Presently, I work in Ortho/Med unit as a PCA(Tech). Which has the glorius job duties of wiping butts, turning patents, taking vitals, Cathing ppl, EKG`s, Enemas, & other varours minor things. I`ve only been a Tech for about 2 1/2 months.

I was wondering do you think I could benefit from EMT-B classes? In general I like to learn. & eventually plan on becomeing a LPN. This will take awhile because of a few educational set backs. However, presently I could take EMT-B classes in late August. If I start working over time, & saving. Probable looking at about $1000 for EMT-B classes including books.

Do you think EMT classes could help increase my ability of Patent Care? or Payrate?
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Most hospitals do not recognize prehospital certs such as Paramedic or EMT so there will probably be no pay increase. Your list of skills and hours of training already exceed that of an EMT.

If you plan on continuing with nursing, why not just put the money and your focus toward getting the RN instead of the LVN? That will benefit you more in the long term and the experience you already have will be very useful.

If you are looking for a marketable cert, add phlebotomy to your list of skills. Many EDs would prefer a CNA/PCA with a phlebotomy cert and your other skills over the EMT. The nursing supervisors in the EDs also love it when you tell them you want to be a nurse.
 
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Thanks for the advice. Reason for LPN over RN is I`m a little hard headed. & takes me awhile to learn things. I was wondering about EMT-B because I hear code Blue called so often its not funny. As a tech all I can do is run a fetch things. Sure they train us in CPR, but we really never help. After retrieving a Crash Cart we are of no use anymore. Just want to be able to do more. & help people better.

Hit a few set backs in the road to becoming a LPN. Majority of needing to retake class like remedial English, & Pre-Algebra. When the local community college placed me in classes I wasn`t ready for.
 
Zalan said:
Thanks for the advice. Reason for LPN over RN is I`m a little hard headed. & takes me awhile to learn things. I was wondering about EMT-B because I hear code Blue called so often its not funny. As a tech all I can do is run a fetch things. Sure they train us in CPR, but we really never help. After retrieving a Crash Cart we are of no use anymore. Just want to be able to do more. & help people better.
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I work with CNAs or PCAs and you do a lot more than you think. I don't know if anyone has told you this lately but the licensed staff really do appreciate you even if they don't get all warm and fuzzy about it.

We do use our CNAs to help with codes especially getting the bed broken down, room cleared, patient postioned and equipment setup. Help with compressions is always welcome as is an extra set of hands securing the ETT. If you offered to do compressions, I bet no one would object.

Even if you are in the background, we know you are there watching over the other patients while we are distracted.
 
I agree with AJ and Vent. I dont think that any amount of an education is a "waste", but theres nothing, significantly more, that you would be able to do anyway.
 
Double Post
 
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Even just getting your AHA Healthcare BLS cert should allow you to help with CPR etc. Ask your supervisor about it, they might even send you on it if you show an interest.

As to the EMT course, like everyone said, would do you no good whatsoever. It's all about Pre-Hospital, so being in the hospital already, mainly wounldn't be relevent.

Now if you wanted to move to pre-hospital, go for it!
 
imurphy said:
Even just getting your AHA Healthcare BLS cert should allow you to help with CPR etc. Ask your supervisor about it, they might even send you on it if you show an interest.

As to the EMT course, like everyone said, would do you no good whatsoever. It's all about Pre-Hospital, so being in the hospital already, mainly wounldn't be relevent.

Now if you wanted to more to pre-hospital, go for it!
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CNA/PCAs are required to have a CPR card as mentioned.

Zalan could probably teach most of an EMT class since Ortho/Med is his/her unit. Safely turning, moving, and transporting with various equipment attached are probably huge parts of his/her responsibility. The other part of EMT is taking vitals and no EMT working on an ambulance for a week or even a month will do as many vitals as some PCAs do in one shift. Now that might make a prehospital job sound more inviting to Zalan. The experience Zalan is getting now with access to many patients and professionals is much more than what can be found on many BLS or even ALS ambulances. It would be a waste of the skills he/she already has especially with being a nurse as a goal.
 
imurphy said:
Even just getting your AHA Healthcare BLS cert should allow you to help with CPR etc. Ask your supervisor about it, they might even send you on it if you show an interest.
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FYI: most hospitals require all patient care staff members to have AHA Healthcare CPR or equivalent. Unlike EMS, its not that big of deal.

R/r 911
 
Ridryder911 said:
FYI: most hospitals require all patient care staff members to have AHA Healthcare CPR or equivalent. Unlike EMS, its not that big of deal.

R/r 911
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Our CNAs/PCAs also know they still have duty responsibilites to 10 - 15 patients each that must still get done inbetween helping us with codes. As in EMS, they don't have the luxury of 1 patient at a time. Everyone wants a piece of them especially in someone else's emergency who appears to be getting all the attention.
 
Right now I`m bouncing between the idea of LPN, & Paramedic. First I wanted to try being a Tech, & then maybe LPN to see if nursing was the right thing for me. Right now I`m not all that big on being a Nurse anymore. Just trying to figure out what I want to do with my life at this point.

I almost like the ideal of become a Paramedic/ with a Criminal Justice degree on the side. Not sure what it would do. Just trying to figure out what I want to do since I`m in my mid 30`s. I spent 10 years of my life working in something similiar to a Costco, Sams Club etc.

I want to make a difference in peoples lives while making enough to support my family.
 
Zalan said:
I want to make a difference in peoples lives while making enough to support my family.
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Then EMS is not the answer.
 
Will your hospital pay for a nursing degree or one of the many other medical professions within the hospital? Nursing is not the only well paying profession nor is it the only profession available in the hospital.
 
They have tuition reimbursement program. They have another program that pays you x number of of hours equal to those of actually class time. However, you have to sell your soul to the hospital via contract, & the devil.

EMS, & Paramedic services are both outsourced to.

I guess I need to look a little deeper into the profession in the hospital to.
 
Zalan said:
They have tuition reimbursement program. They have another program that pays you x number of of hours equal to those of actually class time. However, you have to sell your soul to the hospital via contract, & the devil.

EMS, & Paramedic services are both outsourced to.

I guess I need to look a little deeper into the profession in the hospital to.
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How long is the contract? Usually it is a year of employment for a year of education. A two year degree such as that for RN is usually contracted to a two year employment contract. But, your edcuation is paid at least partially and they accomondate your schedule.
 
VentMedic said:
How long is the contract? Usually it is a year of employment for a year of education. A two year degree such as that for RN is usually contracted to a two year employment contract. But, your edcuation is paid at least partially and they accomondate your schedule.
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School is paid for, even partially, schedule accomodation, and you've got a job right out of school.
 
Just make sure the contract gives credit for time worked and a buy out payment plan if you have to leave.
 
Zalan said:
I almost like the ideal of become a Paramedic/ with a Criminal Justice degree on the side.
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Why a criminal justice degree? Do you plan on going into law enforcement? While having any degree is better then none, a criminal justice degree is basically an easy way to get an "A" and will get you no where. Trust me I have one and I really wish I would have majored in something different.
 
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