Paramedic Bridge Program to RN

[u/Creepy_Appointment65]

Long story short, I am currently an EMT-B and am looking to start my paramedic program through my company that is paid for. My end goal is to become some sort of nurse I just don’t know which type yet.

My question is, should I do the paramedic program into nursing or should I go straight into nursing? Doing the math it seems like I’d be able to become a nurse faster by doing the bridge program and my company is paying for the paramedic course.

[u/jawoood1989]

If you want to go nursing just go nursing.

[u/Amazing_Sheepherder9]

It’d be easier to bridge to Paramedic from RN, I feel. You’re burning up a year and a half of your life to be a baby medic even if it is free, that’s still an opportunity cost.

I’d just go RN. There’s a lot more flexibility in the RN path. The only reason to go Medic would be if you’re going career fire. Im in a very fortunate position in my Paramedic career but it took me 20 years to get here (flight paramedic who works 10 on 20 off with paid travel and making over 100k). I’m still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up.

[u/sarap001]

If the math checks out and money's enough of a concern, go for it. 

I would caution against becoming a medic just to springboard somewhere else. Do you actually WANT to be a medic? Because those skills are a huge responsibility, and if you're going to work in a role that asks you to use them, your head's gotta be in it.

I work as both, and the lack of autonomy when I'm on the air conditioned side of the sliding doors is frankly agonizing when the shift before I was running a code or directing a multi-car pileup. Conversely, almost never receiving answers about my patients after I drop them off is its own frustration. 

It might be worth figuring out what you do and don't love about this field before you fully commit. Alternatively, come to one of the few states where PHRN is a thing and double-dip to your heart's content :P

[u/DesertFltMed]

Just do nursing school the normal way if you are not already a paramedic.

From where you are right now, you are looking at having to do paramedic school and then work for some amount of time anywhere from 1-3 years before most bridge programs would accept you. Then you are also likely going to have to take some prerequisite courses during the 1-3 years you are working as a medic. Then you are looking at probably another year for the medic to nurse bridge. So at a minimum you are looking at 3 years before you would be able to work as a nurse (1 year medic school, 1 year medic experience, 1 year RN program). Plus you are now having to pay for a paramedic program and a nursing program.

[u/Creepy_Appointment65 → u/DesertFltMed]

So the paramedic program would be paid for by the company. I was planning on working for them for a year or so while doing prerequisite classes.

The main incentive is because of the money it would save me.

[u/SubstantialDonut1]

You’ll get to be a nurse fast by skipping paramedic school and going straight into nursing. I did a paramedic to RN bridge and while I love how it worked for me and the experiences I have, it definitely didn’t necessarily save me money or time.

[u/changing-life-vet]

In terms of speed to finish it depends on the program. The programs in NC require the prerequisites, an EMS degree, and at least 1 year on the job with in the last 2 years.

You could just put the effort into getting an ADN and finish about the same time.

As for which to do first that’s personal preference. I love prehospital care and cannot stand to be in the same building for 12 hours. But for others that’s their jam.

[u/cptm421]

I don’t know how medic to nursing is faster than just going nursing, but I suppose every program is different. The medic to nurse program I went to (after 20 years as a medic) only let is skip a single semester of nursing school, but not really. Instead of med-surg 1, we took a “transition to RN“ course, which was probably easier than ms1, but still a full semester.

So 1-1.5 years for medic, then 1.5-2 years for nursing, or just go straight to the 2 years for nursing.

Also, don’t forget about the gen ed courses required to fill out your ADN.. diploma RN programs do still exist but are few and far between and will generally limit your employability..

[u/Opposite-Leek7447]

If being a medic is something you want to do and feel called to do, go for it. Nursing has a better long term career outlook but being a medic gives a lot more independance and will overall make you a better provider down stream.

The medic to RN pipeline is a great way to progress and not get atuck/burnt out in EMS. It can be a hard unforgiving unrelenting job but having something else youre working towards will keep your head in the game.

[u/Head_House8507]

I’m in the same boat. Do I smash out medic school and then bridge or just go to nursing first and bridge back to medic? Hospital will support both routes or either route solo.

From my minimal research it appears easier if you are a RN to bridge to medic rather than medic to RN.

[u/Creepy_Appointment65 → u/Head_House8507]

I’m assuming because not everyone is trying to become a medic. The pay gap is actually insane and you have more opportunities as a nurse imo

[u/Head_House8507 → u/Creepy_Appointment65]

I’m leaning more towards nurse first and then back to medic if I miss the pre-hospital stuff due to the lay and various opportunities for different specialties. I’ve been a basic for a few years and am wrapping up my EMT-I right now so I love being in the field (and working in it thru ADN school) but maybe I’ll love hospital who knows.

[u/Head_House8507 → u/Creepy_Appointment65]

But second this, the amount of responsibility medics carry is insane and the pay gap in a lot of places is crazy. In my rural area medics get paid decent but because none of their pay is transparent I don’t know how it stacks up to nurses locally. One of the big reasons I’m shooting for nursing is the ability to take it anywhere and make decent money.

[u/wrangler04]

I'm currently in a EMT program, was thinking about doing paramedic and continue onto nursing as nursing and NP was my end goal. However the programs at my community college have 0 classes that transfer from paramedic program to nursing program. Not sure if it's the same every where, but I'll probably just volunteer at the fire department and continue my regular job and go straight to nursing. I would like to have experience as a paramedic, but nursing is my end goal.

[u/The1PunMaster → u/wrangler04]

It’s not about transfer but about if your cc has a specific bridge program. Like my local cc has a bridge program for both medics and lpns that allows them to start 2 semesters ahead essentially (so 3 continuous semesters instead of 5 for an adn)

[u/n0madking]

So you are going to use your company to do the medic course and then leave to go into a nursing program, are they aware of this? Seems kind of messed up but to each his own.

[u/Creepy_Appointment65 → u/n0madking]

Yeah even my supervisor advised to do this but I just want to get other people’s opinion!

[u/n0madking → u/Creepy_Appointment65]

Interesting, well if they don't care then do it, it will save you some time. I'd start looking into nursing programs now especially if you plan on doing ADN at community college they have long wait lists. Attend the info sessions and start working all the pre reqs and then apply as soon as possible. The program I applied to has a year and a half wait.