Nursing guidance
Dec 22, 2009 07:28 PM
A bit of guidance needed
by Sizz

Hello all

I'm a former EMT-Basic when I was 20 I became an EMT as my mother is and she is also a 30 year LPN who has always loved nursing and enjoyed EMS which got me involved. I practiced a bit in a rural area as an EMT and then as life went on I got tied up a few years back let my license go and now I'm back in school and actually just retook the EMT class this past fall semester and passed my practical last night hoping on completing the nationals soon. The concern I have is continuing on into EMS further which I do enjoy or going into nursing and completing my RN. The reason I feel that I'm in a bit of a jam is that I'm interested in both EMS and nursing but as of lately I've felt EMS offers less and less and more and more negatives vs the nursing field

I did my ride couple weeks back again and each paramedic was complaining about there job, the pay, having a second job and the 1st and 2nd shift or 24 and 48's. Not only do I hear this from a large company I was with many of my friends who are medics are working part time now with different jobs, stating they will not go back into ems with family pay and many other environmental factors. Now I was pretty stuck on going forward with my paramedics until I chatted with my mother and did some time in the ER at a local trauma center.

I've always loved the trauma type setting and this pushed me more so to ems vs nursing but as of lately I'm really wanting to get into nursing and peruse it as a career. I'm 28 and married with 3 kids which I enjoy spending some time with them. I'm wanting to become a flight nurse if down the road after completing my RN and spending 3-5 years in a trauma center or ICU etc making sure I'm getting plenty of experience and all the pre hospital and critical care endorsements I can obtain and complete to help me with this. And if I'm never able to become flight I'd love just being in a level 1 trauma center. I'm in the mid west and we have a local school
that offers LPN each fall and then every 2 years the RN program. Its appealing and interesting and seems to be a better choice for my family and myself and of course pays much more which will benefit all of us.

I'm just wanting to know what advise you can give me on how to pursue this or if not perusing EMS could be a mistake? For as much hours and work and clinical that is required it appears as the outcome is not worth it other than the feeling of helping others and enjoying the job. I rather not get stuck in a career and wasting time money and ending up in a burn out job after 5 years.. Is it possible to get my LPN spend a few years in a home or on the floor, get my RN and get into an ER spend a few years working in that area then trying the ICU and then seeing where the nursing takes me from there...?

Thanks again!