Has anybody heard of nurses challenging the paramedic curriculum?

Question

I was just wondering if anybody knows about a nurse to paramedic bridge program, where nurses can become paramedics without going through the entire paramedic course. Or can e.r./trauma nurses just work on 911 ambulances?

Answer 1

There are RN to Paramedic bridge programs, but they are few and far in between. Check online and search for "RN to Paramedic Bridge Programs" and see if there are any in your area. These programs are usually only available to RNs and not LPNs. They last a few months and teach the RN to function prehospitally, and they teach the RN to perform field procedures such as endotracheal intubation.
If there is no bridge program available in your area, you might be able to take a regular paramedic program at your local college, and apply some of your nursing classes (anatomy and physiology, etc) towards the paramedic program.
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

call your local ems department. I am going to school to become an EMT-B and eventually a paramedic. I would guess you would have to learn all the equipment, etc. If you already know it hopefully you can just take the test which I hear is hella hard.