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Not everyone goes directly from high school to college knowing what they want to be when they grow up.  Many walk a road less traveled while discovering themselves personally and professionally.  Some decide to marry and have children before starting a career and others enter unrelated career fields before considering any aspect of health care.

Some folks travel in increments through health care or nursing programs, often beginning as nurse aides, lab technicians, LPNs, ADNs, and then BSNs, and beyond.  I was one of those who took a convoluted path, raising children, and occupying unsatisfying jobs before working several years on the road as a paramedic.

Working as a paramedic was the best job I ever loved.  Emergency medicine was something I dreamed about after seeing Roy and Johnny work their medical miracles, conquering every conceivable obstacle in the cleverest way, and fighting enemies – death, disease,  and disability – with grace, aplomb, and a little irreverence.  Unfortunately, there comes a time when scraping folks off icy roads at 0300 in the middle of winter, or facing 115 degree days in the desert becomes too much of a challenge.

Like many of my paramedic brothers and sisters who wanted a more secure environment, better income, and a different type of challenge, I went back to college and applied to the nursing program.  Many brick and mortar nursing schools have waiting lists; mine was 18 months.  There are bridge programs available for paramedic to RN online, which cuts down considerably on time and cost.

I learned that becoming a paramedic-RN made me a better medic, and I continued to work the road for quite some time.

Good medics and good nurses always hunger to know more, to understand the why behind every action, delighting in anticipating orders before a physician can utter them.  Within 10 years, the Paramedic RN was not enough, and because I had moved across country and worked in a busy ER, ground school was impractical.

Are You An EMT/Paramedic Considering Earning A Nursing Degree?

Life as an EMT/Paramedic can be challenging, but taking your professional development to the next level does not need to be. Start by finding an accredited nursing school near you to prepare yourself for advancement through earning a nursing degree online. Simply click on the degree that interests you in the left side margin to bring up schools that offer that degree, and then click the link for the programs that interest you. Fill out and complete the brief information request form in order to receive additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from nursing schools offering online nursing programs that best match your interests: Online Nursing Programs

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