Hey everyone, I wanted to ask for some input from the community. I’m currently a fire/medic, but I’m also licensed as an RN. Prior to transitioning to the 911 role, I worked as an ER RN for 3 years. I’ve become interested in becoming a critical care medic after learning about it. However, I want to ask how much more one learns in these programs and how different they can be from a baseline nursing education. I understand that a critical care program is specific to pts with advanced interventions and their maintenance (impelas, ECMO, IABP, etc) along with a further understanding of more medications. I guess my a third question is if would it be a smart idea to become enrolled in a critical care program? At least from a prehospital standpoint, I feel it would. Are there any other RN/Medics who pursed a critical care certification? Thanks for any reply.
I’m an ED RN in progress of going to medical school, what state do you live in? Although the nremt exist different states and even counties operate very differently
Honest question…why are yall going from RN to medic? Why not advance as an RN and make bucketloads more money AND get a sense of advancement?
Prehospital is cooler
eh, pros/cons to each. I'm a medic and a PA. But, I went to Medic school 10 years before PA school. I can't imagine going from PA and taking the time to go back and do medic school.
Simply put, the fire departments around me offer way better benefits than any hospital. Personally, I think I have the best of both worlds. Yes, I can advance as an RN and make more money (hourly), but I don’t think I’d be happy as a mid-level. I’m happier managing my patients as a bedside RN or a street medic. What I meant by advancement is a more thorough understanding of the certifications out there. For example, CEN for my RN or a Critical Care Medic. I want to be knowledgeable in the roles that I plan to work in and, ideally, feel like a more capable clinician.
I thought about it but I make a pretty good amount of money as a fire medic and np education is very poor I’d probably actually learn more and be able to handle critical care Better with medic education and I’d rather be at the peak of what I do not being second always as is the NP no hate to advanced providers but that’s just my thoughts
I’m in IL. Quickly, learning that our regional EMS systems(multiple counties lumped together) are truly different from one another!
I’m also a ff/paramedic/RN with nursing experience in CCU and the EC. I tend to believe that there is no upper limit on how much specialized training you should get if the option is there. I haven’t been able to do CC Paramedic training yet but CC nursing is definitely much more involved than what you get in baseline nursing education.
If you can do it, I think you should.
I feel the same way. ICU/CCU was going to be the next step if I didn’t get hired on full time. I was just wondering how much more different this CCP course could be. Thanks for the input!
For me personally the critical care paramedic course I took was mainly review. I learned about balloon pumps, pulmonary artery catheters, ventilators, and blood (might not be new to you.) I would say that it was overall still worth it- especially if you love learning as much as I do!