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EMS vs Nursing
Hey everybody! I'm new to the site and already loving everything about it. I was thinking maybe you guys could give me some input and/or direction? I've been working the last 2 years as an emt-b at a private company in Chicago and am looking to move forward with my career. Problem is, I don't know which direction to go in. I'd love to pursue my medic certification and eventually get hired onto a fire dept but i've also considered nursing more so because it's a "safer" route as far as employment is concerned. I'm getting married in a year and want to eventually start a family and it just worries me that i'll be wasting my time with medic school because I understand that public safety is feeling the pressure of our economy as well and fire dept's are seeking a limited number of recruits. I'd love to be financially stable which is why nursing is appealing but I love ems. Also, I'm 26 and I understand dept's usually stop hiring at 34 (which still gives me plenty of time) but I just don't want to be in my 30's with no back up plan. Any advice at all would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Not knowing a lot about you, you have to ask yourself what kind of person you are. Specifically, are you a lifestyle person who prefers being outside or can you handle being inside a hospital. That's the basic difference being pretty simplistic.
I was where you are now thirty-years ago. I was pre-med with plans on becoming an ER doc. A job was offered to me teaching paramedic school at a teaching hospital and I left my secure state job, working as a paramedic for a University Police Department. I rolled the dice thinking that this would be a great way for me to see if I truly was cut out for working inside a hospital emergency room.
Guess what? It sucked. Couldn't wait to run calls again in the field and that's exactly what I did. The bad news 30 years later is that my body is trashed. I'm not tiny by any means so I held up pretty well all in all considering how many times I was injured on the job. Looking back now, in hind site, maybe the adrenaline rush charge that I got and always did wasn't worth the trade off.
It's all about lifestyle and how you want to spend it. I liked shift work better and had no patience for being in a hospital. My wife on the other hand loves being a RN and wouldn't consider doing anything else.
Just remember Ross, no one care more about you than you. Good luck with your decision process.
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Ross Kalina on
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I really appreciate the advice Mike. You raise a great point. Throughout high school and after, I worked at two different doctor's offices for almost 8 years and I could not imagine being cooped up inside a building again. I guess (right now at least) I'm not as concerned about the wear and tear on my body. Like I said, nursing just seems appealing because of the pay and odds of me getting a job right after obtaining my degree. I just want to be doing what makes me happy while making a comfortable living. Guess I have some thinking to do. Thanks again!
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Permalink Reply by Robert Bowen, Jr on
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Ross,
Let me give you my story. I am a former high school teacher who went to EMT-B training as a volunteer firefighter. I eventually was fortunate enough to get a position with the local hospital on their MICU. They trained me as a EMT-Paramedic which I thoroughly enjoyed: the adrenalin rush, the challenges in the field, etc. Eventually, I realized I hit a plateau with the type of care I could give and wanted more. Luckily, my hospital employer had a school of nursing and I applied & graduated. The hospital paid for my entire education. After graduation, I became a member of that hospital's emergency department staff as an RN, MS, CEN, CCRN, EMT-P. I contributed more to the overall staff understanding what the field experience was like and enlightened them to respond my quickly to the EMS phone/radio and the arriving crew. I feel that I contributed and accomplished more being a nurse than I could being an EMT or paramedic.
That said, nursing is not a career for everyoone. There's a lot of bullsh*t you put up with however, the opportunities are endless even as you age.
I hope this helps you out. I wish you only the best of luck in your future career choice and wedding. PS: I retired in 2007 as an ED RN but still teach ACLS, BCLS, and advise my fire chief and my EMS assistant chief. I have been and still remain an active volunteer firefighter and have been doing this for 44 years.
Good Luck!
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Abe and Robert thanks for the advice. I think I'll be going to direction of medic and hopefully get accepted to a local program that starts this January. After that i'll test for as many dept's as possible. To be honest, the RN still interests me but I think I would be truly disappointed in myself if I just gave up on firefighting because after all, that's the main reason I got into this field in the first place.
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