EMT to Nurse or CNA to Nurse? I dont know!!?

Question

I want to be a RN and maybe eventually a NP but I want to get an idea of healthcare but I want it to be exciting. I dont know if i should do a emt course and go to school part time or a cna course and do it that way. As a emt I can do school for health sciences and transfer to a nursing program or cna to lvn to rn. Here were two options I made up:

Option 1

Hanford Adult School
C.N.A. Program (4-5 months)
LVN Program (1 year)

College of Sequoias
LVN to RN (A.D.N) (2 years)
RN to BSN (2 years or less) (BSN from CSU Bakersfield)

Option 2

West Hills College
EMT Program (5 months)
Health Sciences (Pre-Professional)

Fresno State
BS in Nursing (4 years)

Answer 1

Go with the ADN in most states you can sit for the LVN boards after your first year in school. Or you can go with student nurse or nurse extern jobs many hospitals offer them after your first year of nursing school, these jobs are very much like CNA positions with much better pay and you get to learn some nursing things. I have been a nurse for 9 years and have an ADN working on my BSN, finally!

Answer 2

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EMT to Nurse or CNA to Nurse? I dont know!!?
I want to be a RN and maybe eventually a NP but I want to get an idea of healthcare but I want it to be exciting. I dont know if i should do a emt course and go to school part time or a cna course and do it that way. As a emt I can do school for health sciences and transfer to a nursing program or...

Answer 3

I think you will be disillusioned from the start with either if you want "excitement," but either will work.

As a CNA in a hospital, you will be doing patient care, such as vitals, walking patients, passing out food trays, helping patients to the bathroom, things like that.

As an EMT, many, if not most, of your patients really don't need an ambulance. You might get a job driving a wheelchair van shuttling people to doctor appointments, etc as well. Not every EMT works for a 911 response company, and even those that do don't get all "good" calls. In some areas, 911 response is handled by the Fire Department, and private services are called in to do the "minor" transports to keep the FD service free for 911.

If you want to become a nurse, though, go with the CNA course. EMS and nursing have different mindsets and thinking processes. EMS is about stabilizing the patient, getting them to the hospital, and walking away. It is a win if the patient makes it to the door alive. Nursing takes a longer view, and is more about getting the person back to their normal life.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Mike, your answers really shows how little you know. Please do not claim to be an EMT. CNAs make better ER techs than EMTs since they are more accustomed to working with lots of patients and doing direct patient care for basic needs. In other words they don't cringe at the dirty work which EMTs tend to run away from. The up side of MA is that you wlll know how to do EKGs and phlebotomy. But, a CNA can be trained ot be a PCT or phlebotomist just as easy. An EMT does not have that advantage. However, I agree it doesn't seem like you are cut out for either CNA or EMT and definitely not ER Tech.

Answer 5

Emt To Nurse

Answer 6

It really depends on which type of RN or NP you want to be. If you like trauma or ER work, then become an EMT first. I'd say its more exciting than LVN or CNA. But if your REALLY want to be a nurse and don't think you will change your mind, I think its a better idea to go straight into the program.

Answer 7

I would start with the CNA course, or here's another option. You could try a Medical Assisting program. Some colleges actually have two year degree programs in this where many of the courses could be applied to the RN program later.

In some colleges such as on the community college level one can take an LPN course to start out with and use that to help them get in to the RN program. It's called a bridge.

My local community college offers this.

Answer 8

Emt To Rn