Ohio EMS question regarding nurses

FireEMSPolice

FireEMSPolice

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May 21, 2010
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Ohio
My fiance recently graduated with her Bachelors in Science in Nursing (RN BSN) and passed her state boards. She has been applying like crazy at every hospital in Columbus and the surrounding area. For all the talk about the plentiful nursing jobs, it doesnt really some like there are many out there. If there are, they want experienced nurses. Kind of makes me mad because how are you supposed to gain experience? Seems as though nobody is willing to give a newbie a chance. I just think shes starting to get a little discouraged.


So, she thought about applying to private EMS companies. The thing is, around here the FD based EMS services require you to be a firefighter (she has no interest in that) or our county EMS does the transports. The private EMS companies are not so much 9-1-1 responders, they are mainly for getting people from the nursing home to dialysis or transporting from hospital to hospital for example.


To the question: Can an RN work for an EMS company without having been to EMT school? I ask because I see some places offer bridge courses and I know some nurses who also hold EMT-P cards.
 
Normally a nurse can not work within the EMS system because there is no protocols for the nurse to run under. The protocols are only created for the levels in EMS due to them being set up under the Medical Director of the EMS system or area they are in charge of. We have an issue here because we run a M.I.C.U. out of the station and a lot of the nurses here want to go on runs but unless they are some sort of an E.M.T. they are just observing.


I know it's not the most grandeur of jobs but she might have to get a job at a nursing home or something along those lines to get some experience. Another way she might be able to pick one up is go to a smaller area (Marion) because they like to hire nurses fresh off the presses. It's a drive but normally it's only for a little bit and who knows, she might just like it there. My father-in law just struggled with this and it's hard to get the experience when no one will hire you to get it.


I hope she finds something though, I know how frustrating it is having something you worked so hard for and then you now have to wait to do it.


EDIT: A lot of nurses have their EMT-P card because of the reasons I mentioned above. Also it helps because say if she wants to get into a flight program later she will be just one step ahead of the game. :)
 
Its too bad its got to be that way. The Nurse shortage isnt what it once was. Many hospitals like to rehire retired nurses and the pension system pays their healthcare and other benefits. It makes it tough for the ones that just got out of School. Check with the ODPS and see what they say about her taking a challenge test to get her EMT Certification. Best of Luck.
 
Hoser said:
Check with the ODPS and see what they say about her taking a challenge test to get her EMT Certification.
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That was actually what I was going to suggest. Should be able to test out and start running EMS. Morrow and Delaware Counties run EMS that do not require FD card. They run these units as seperate entities.


Also might want to check nursing homes. I was thinking that Arbors At Delaware is hiring, here is there contact info:


Arbors At Delaware: A Subacute & Rehabilitation Center in Delaware, OH - (740) 369-9614


Maybe while she is waiting, look into getting further nursing schooling. She can get her trauma and surgical care certs on top of her nursing that may boost her chances. I think Job and Family Services could help with that if things are tight. Just throwing ideas out there.


Wish the best, I know it is tough out there right now. Take care,


Darren
 
Guys, thanks alot!


I figured that she may have to be an EMT and tried telling her that. She got the idea because a friend of her dads girlfriend is an RN and runs with a private ambulance company, not being an EMT or any sort.


Any more info on this challenge test? Who would I contact at ODPS Divison of EMS


With a wedding coming up, its going to be hard to take any more classes without taking time off. Any more classes will have to wait until after the new year. She wants to get her feet wet before rushing back in to school. A suitemate of hers in college wants to immediately go back for her Masters in Science in Nursing (MSN), and she recently got hired at the Cleveland Clinic Childrens Hospital on a contingency basis, provided she passed her state boards and she did.


Marion isnt to far a drive from here, about 20 miles up the street.


I checked Arbors website and they do not have any positions open here.


I know some people who work at Delaware County EMS and Morrow County EMS.
 
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I don't believe MedFlight's nurses are EMTs. It all depends on the agency wheter she would need it or not.
 
Bigassfireman said:
I don't believe MedFlight's nurses are EMTs. It all depends on the agency wheter she would need it or not.
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Bi Gas Fireman is right (he he he!)......they also have paramedics, so they can push drugs, and the flight nurses assist.
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Any info on this ODPS test?
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They just hired a new EMS Director begining of the Month.


Just have to call down there and check. I can post a link on here if you need it. Just let me know.
 
FireGuru said:
They just hired a new EMS Director begining of the Month.

Just have to call down there and check. I can post a link on here if you need it. Just let me know.
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Link would help so I can get more info on the test. I couldnt find anything on the ODPS EMS website. I just dont want to sound dumb when I call down there.
 
SPMRC said:
She might has to travel a little, we have people applying from three states away for kind of jobs.
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In PA if you want your RN to actually mean something in the Pre-Hospital arena, you have to be a certified PHRN, which IIRC involves spending some time working as an ER or ICU nurse. If you don't have that, you can't work. If you're a non-Pre-Hospital RN with and EMT cert, you work as an EMT...
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Link would help so I can get more info on the test. I couldnt find anything on the ODPS EMS website. I just dont want to sound dumb when I call down there.
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Their website is possibly the most horrid site I have ever had the misfortune of navigating. It is nearly impossible to find the information you are looking for most of the time.
 
Bigassfireman said:
Their website is possibly the most horrid site I have ever had the misfortune of navigating. It is nearly impossible to find the information you are looking for most of the time.
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All of Ohio's government websites suck! Try finding info from the BMV, EMS Division, or any other branch!! Good luck!!
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Link would help so I can get more info on the test. I couldnt find anything on the ODPS EMS website. I just dont want to sound dumb when I call down there.
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Anyone?
 
Unless she became a paramedic and went to work at Delaware County, Non fire EMS doesn't much. The MICU & Flight services require several years of experience for RNs doing critical care transport..
 
I'm a little behind the game, but I know quite a few nurses that work as ALS providers in EMS for our counties EMS system. I think it depends on you systems protocols, but maybe state. Not for sure, just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents!
 
As a former employee of AMR here in Mississippi I know that NREMT-P/RN looks real good on a application. We used RN's all the time but only when on " a nurse call". Certain EMS protocalls here require an RN to be on board; depends on the med's and all that--then it's called a "nurse trip" and it considered specialized transport..I was always releived when I took a patient to the ER and the nurse there was an RN/Paramedic or you are there when a code goes down.


Be Safe
 
I doubt that she is going to be able to challenge a test she's not qualified for...no offence but paramedics have to push drugs that she probley did not touch base on in RN school also medics have to read EKG's as well.


There is a RN to Paramedic Bridge course that the state of Ohio accepts, it is only 4 months and well worth it.


The reassion your girlfriend isin't getting hired is because of the lack of experance, she should probley apply to a home health agency, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. And why not apply for the state, they have thousands of nurses in the corrections facilities, health departments and TB clinics.


ODPS | Emergency Medical Services
 
An RN in Ohio will have to take a EMT basic course. After that, the RN can find a school/college that teaches both paramedic and RN and ask the Paramedic program director if you can challenge the paramedic test. The RN may have to attend some of the paramedic classes. That depends on the program director. My girlfriend is a nurse and had the take the EMT basic course and the college in our area that teaches paramedic will not allow a nurse to challenge the test, so far but that may change soon.
 
bobnash78 said:
An RN in Ohio will have to take a EMT basic course. After that, the RN can find a school/college that teaches both paramedic and RN and ask the Paramedic program director if you can challenge the paramedic test./QUOTE]


*game show buzzer* ... WRONG...


The state of Ohio nor does National Registry allowing for challenging of said NR Tests.


The girlfriend will have to take both EMTB and EMTP classes before allowed to sit for testing.


She has to learn about Intubation, IV Therapy, Drugs, also learn to read an EKG, a whole list of skills she did not learn in nursing school.
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ark_firefighter said:
She has to learn about Intubation, IV Therapy, Drugs, also learn to read an EKG, a whole list of skills she did not learn in nursing school.
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Are you joking? She didnt go to 4 years of nursing school to not learn that stuff. She just graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing (RN-BSN). I know she learned all that stuff. I helped her study for it.


I will just tell her to forget EMS.
 
Ark you may want to recheck that. Like I said, they may have to attend some of the classes. It's not up to Ohio or Nremt to say weither you can challenge the test or not to some degree. If a paramedic program director signs a RN/EMT basic off to test, then they will be able to, as long as they met the requirements. They still would have to take all the practicals which the RN should attend the nessesary classes. Some RNs are trained in intubation, io, chest decompression, surgical airways and other paramedic skills depending on what kind of facility they work in. The paramedic program here requires RN/emt's to take some of the classes. It's about 20 classes out of the 3 semesters depending on the class schedule. I'm not just a paramedic.
 
ark_firefighter said:
I doubt that she is going to be able to challenge a test she's not qualified for...no offence but paramedics have to push drugs that she probley did not touch base on in RN school also medics have to read EKG's as well.

There is a RN to Paramedic Bridge course that the state of Ohio accepts, it is only 4 months and well worth it.


The reassion your girlfriend isin't getting hired is because of the lack of experance, she should probley apply to a home health agency, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. And why not apply for the state, they have thousands of nurses in the corrections facilities, health departments and TB clinics.


ODPS | Emergency Medical Services
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Plus they can do needle decompressions, crics, intubations, manual defibs, etc. And a lot of drugs they push you have to have a 12 lead on the pt. Adenosine would be one off the top of my head. And your ACLS drugs.
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Are you joking? She didnt go to 4 years of nursing school to not learn that stuff. She just graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing (RN-BSN). I know she learned all that stuff. I helped her study for it.


I will just tell her to forget EMS.
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Also in MO, anyone with an LPN or higher can challenge the EMT-B, and I thought that was NR, but maybe not.
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Are you joking? She didnt go to 4 years of nursing school to not learn that stuff. She just graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing (RN-BSN). I know she learned all that stuff. I helped her study for it.


I will just tell her to forget EMS.
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Okay first off this is my last post on this wounderful thread...


Second its called a BSN (Batchelor of Science in Nursing) not RN-BSN ... that would be a double negative


"Hi I'm a Nurse Nurse" ...


BSN = 4 years of college; 2 years of that was crap classes including english, math, and a&p etc ... the other 2 are Nursing classes and clinicals ... don't make it sound bigger or better than what it is. She's still a RN


We all know a paramedic can tube, start ivs, decompress a lung, read ekgs, shock, push drugs with OUT orders where RNs have to get the doc's thumbs up.


I highly doubt that she will sweet talk some Paramedic director into signing her off to take the test...if they do please tell me where she will be working so I can keep myself and my family far away of her responce district.


I'll take a medic fresh out of school vs. a nurse that thinks she knowns a medics job anyday !


2 words ...malpractice insurance.
 
Dude, you need to relax, really.


First, its BACHELOR of Science in Nursing


Second, her credentials are RN BSN. Most nurses have this on their nameplates. No different then an EMT-P or some crap.


I was just merely trying to see what would be involved is all.


For example, I know a person from OSP doesnt need to go to the entire academy to be commissioned a peace officer. They just have to take certain classes and the test. Please dont try to tell me otherwise. I know a few people who did this.


I was just trying to see if there was a similar thing for nursing and EMS is all. I heard some places offer RN-Paramedic bridge courses.
 
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FireEMSPolice said:
Dude, you need to relax, really.

First, its BACHELORS of Science in Nursing


Second, her credentials are RN BSN. Most nurses have this on their nameplates. No different then an EMT-P or some crap.


I was just merely trying to see what would be involved is all.


For example, I know a person from OSP doesnt need to go to the entire academy to be commissioned a peace officer. They just have to take certain classes and the test. Please dont try to tell me otherwise. I know a few people who did this.


I was just trying to see if there was a similar thing for nursing and EMS is all. I heard some places offer RN-Paramedic bridge courses.
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BachelorS ? So she has more than one degree ? Awsome !


EMT-P or some Crap ? Thats awsome


OSP ... Commissioned peace officers ? I don't care if I wanted to be a bullet magnet I would have stayed in the Army.


YES, for the 3rd time of my posts there ARE RN to Paramedic Bridge classes, but they might require EMT-Basic.


Your getting mad, I'm getting mad ... Just call down to ODPS on Monday and ask.
 
ark_firefighter said:
BachelorS ? So she has more than one degree ? Awsome !
EMT-P or some Crap ? Thats awsome


OSP ... Commissioned peace officers ? I don't care if I wanted to be a bullet magnet I would have stayed in the Army.


YES, for the 3rd time of my posts there ARE RN to Paramedic Bridge classes, but they might require EMT-Basic.


Your getting mad, I'm getting mad ... Just call down to ODPS on Monday and ask.
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Please refrain from posting anymore unless you have something to contribute. The "s" on the end was a typo (fingers too big for my cell)


I already emailed ODPS for the straight answer.
 
Speaking from experience, I would actually call and talk to someone. The email, website, whatever else besides actually speaking with someone down there almost always leaves you more confused than when you began. My old partner was and EMT-B, getting her RN. She told me that she was informed by the nursing school that she would be able to test for the P card after she obtained her RN without going thru the test. But, she was already a basic, so I don't know if that made a difference or not. Call. That is better than getting answers about how it works in other states or how someone's brother's uncle's girlfriend's high school best friend got their RN and Medic.
 
FireEMSPolice said:
Are you joking? She didnt go to 4 years of nursing school to not learn that stuff. She just graduated with her Bachelors in Nursing (RN-BSN). I know she learned all that stuff. I helped her study for it.


I will just tell her to forget EMS.
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When I was in medic school. a buddy & I explained basics of EKG interpretation to a 4th year med student. Education for different health care professions have different priorities. My scope of practice as paramedic allows me to do lots of things that my wife is not allowed to do as RN with 20 years ER experience...
 
The reply I got from the Dept of Public Safety, Division of EMS

FireEMSPolice,

Unfortunately, the Ohio EMS Board does not have a program to allow credit for a


person to become an Ohio EMT-Basic. EVERYONE, including Doctors, must first take


the full initial Ohio EMT-Basic course before attempting to take an advanced


Ohio EMS level provider.


The Ohio EMS Board does have provisions in place for allowing credit at the


Intermediate or Paramedic level through the Accredited Training program with


documented written and practical testing.


Thanks for using Ask EMS. Please advise if you have further.


Sincerely,


John E. Sands


Chief of EMS Operations


1-614-387-0649


jesands@dps.state.oh.us
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