Are Paramedic to RN Bridge Programs Right for You?

February 4th, 2010

It is a short transition from becoming a paramedic to becoming an RN, although many people will dispute this statement.  Paramedics are trained to work in specific fields that are much different than RNs, but this still gives you a taste of what the health care industry is like, and how quickly you must think on your feet.  Paramedics are usually the first on the scene for many emergencies and therefore must be accustomed to scenes of gore, while RNs are typically involved more with patient care after the fact.

Becoming a paramedic involves passing your EMT exams and training yourself to become used to uncomfortable scenes.  This amount of training goes a long way in preparing you for a lifelong career in the health industry, whether you want to become a nurse or a doctor.  This type of training is vastly instrumental in securing your taste for the medical field.  After a few years of paramedic work, many workers typically are more interested in exploring different medical alternatives, which is why there are now so many paramedic to RN bridge programs that help close the gap in knowledge between the two programs.

Paramedic to RN bridge programs help students transition to becoming an RN without involving years of study, years that many of us do not have.  These programs allow students to take the knowledge they have learned in the paramedic field, and apply this to classes toward becoming an RN.  As a paramedic, you typically do not have as much time as traditional nursing students may have, which is why many of the paramedic to RN bridge programs cater to your schedule and are beginning to be offered online.  These programs save years of time in the schooling process and can expedite the transition to becoming an RN.

The biggest thing to consider when enrolling in these programs is the amount of knowledge you have gained since becoming a paramedic.  If  you do not feel secure in your own field, then you should consider enrolling in strictly nursing school, bypassing the paramedic to RN bridge program.  However, if you have a strong background, this program is very beneficial toward expediting the process.  While the two fields are related, it is important to keep in mind that they involve many different procedures and many different types of situations.  Paramedics do not have to worry about catering to the same patient more than thirty minutes after an incident; nurses, on the other hand, are required to check on their patients round the clock (depending on the type of nurse of course).  This transition may be difficult for some students, but taking the proper classes and training yourself for this work will make the transition much smoother.
 

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