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What types of nurses are there and what qualifications are needed for each of them?
I'm going into nursing and I don't know which one allows me to work for firefighting or someone who is a doctor in such. I also want to know my options for what I can become in the medical field.
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4 answers
Nailya Muganlinskaya, ACNP-BC, DNP, MPH
Nurse Practitioner, Acute Care
12
Answers
Updated
Nailya’s Answer
Hi Tobey,
There are many kinds of nurses, they practice in different areas, such as hospitals, schools, community clinics, home care agencies. To become a nurse, you first, need a degree, and second, you need to pass a board exam after you graduate from a school. A degree for nurse beginners is RN, BSN. Many schools now have RN, BSN with a transition to a master degree (MSN).
There are many kinds of nurses, they practice in different areas, such as hospitals, schools, community clinics, home care agencies. To become a nurse, you first, need a degree, and second, you need to pass a board exam after you graduate from a school. A degree for nurse beginners is RN, BSN. Many schools now have RN, BSN with a transition to a master degree (MSN).
Updated
John’s Answer
As an RN with a background in firefighting, EMT, and Paramedic roles, I strongly recommend completing your RN program first. Once you've earned your RN license, most states permit you to take their EMS license test as a basic EMT or an Advanced EMT. However, you won't be able to take the Paramedic license test unless you've finished a Paramedic program. Nowadays, many firefighters earn a degree in fire science. If they're part of a department that runs an ambulance service, they usually also hold an EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic license. Due to EMS laws, most transportation services (excluding air or ground-based critical care) don't employ RNs without an EMS license.
Most people I've met who've worked in both EMS and hospital nursing started their careers in EMS before moving into nursing. This is often due to the salary differences, with nurses typically earning nearly twice as much as Paramedics in base pay. Choosing to further your education and accept a lower salary isn't a common decision, but if you're passionate about EMS and/or firefighting, it might be the right path for you. Holding multiple licenses at the same time can be beneficial if you're interested in working in an ER, ICU, Critical Care Unit, or doing Critical Care Transport on the ground or in the air.
I suggest researching with your state's EMS office to understand your options for EMS licensure with your RN. It could be worth exploring to see if it's a suitable career path for you.
Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Most people I've met who've worked in both EMS and hospital nursing started their careers in EMS before moving into nursing. This is often due to the salary differences, with nurses typically earning nearly twice as much as Paramedics in base pay. Choosing to further your education and accept a lower salary isn't a common decision, but if you're passionate about EMS and/or firefighting, it might be the right path for you. Holding multiple licenses at the same time can be beneficial if you're interested in working in an ER, ICU, Critical Care Unit, or doing Critical Care Transport on the ground or in the air.
I suggest researching with your state's EMS office to understand your options for EMS licensure with your RN. It could be worth exploring to see if it's a suitable career path for you.
Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Updated
Tara T’s Answer
A registered nurse has the opportunity to become a member of a fire department's medical services team. In California and several other states, being a registered nurse is a key eligibility requirement for joining the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team. To qualify, these nurses must also participate in pre-hospital care training. Having experience in critical care, such as air transport, can be a significant advantage. This is because flight nurses possess the necessary training for emergency and trauma situations. I hope this guidance proves useful to you, and I wish you the best of luck.
Warm regards, Tara
Training in EMS
Training in air transport
Training in trauma and critical care
Warm regards, Tara
Tara T recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Casey’s Answer
If you're interested in working firefighting or emergency medical services, I would go into nursing and get a bachelor's degree. This may make it easier for you to find work in an emergency room, which will help you be able to work out in the field (or, see below for an alternate approach). Tara T gave a good explanation of how to get onto an EMS team, but starting in an ER is a great place to get the experience you will need to branch out into other areas of critical care (i.e. to become a flight nurse, for example).
Also, if you do get a bachelor's degree, you may find that there is another area of nursing that you might like better (or might want to change to later), and you will be more employable--especially if you want to move into management after a time. But if you're focused on emergency care, you might want to train as an Emergency Medical Technician first to see how it fits your idea of your future; it's a step you would take before becoming a Paramedic. You could work in these capacities while in nursing school and they would enhance your ability to work in an ER.
Best of luck!
Casey
You could also volunteer to be an ambulance driver first!
Pursue EMT training
Choose a nursing school with a bachelor's degree
Also, if you do get a bachelor's degree, you may find that there is another area of nursing that you might like better (or might want to change to later), and you will be more employable--especially if you want to move into management after a time. But if you're focused on emergency care, you might want to train as an Emergency Medical Technician first to see how it fits your idea of your future; it's a step you would take before becoming a Paramedic. You could work in these capacities while in nursing school and they would enhance your ability to work in an ER.
Best of luck!
Casey
Casey recommends the following next steps: