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We cover a wide range of topics all relating to paramedics and registered nurses. These topics include, but are not limited to, salary and job advancement opportunities, types of degree programs available, and online institutions offering accredited degrees in the field.
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The Ultimate Guide to a Career as an RN

If you’re currently a paramedic, one of the ways you can advance in your career is to go back to school to become a registered nurse, or RN. As an RN, you’ll qualify for a wider range of jobs and typically make more money. Let’s look at the different kinds of degrees available to you, the salary you can expect to make, your daily tasks as a nurse, and more.

Types of RNs

The type of degree you get determines the type of RN you are eligible to become, as well as the annual salary you can expect to make and your future career options. The quickest way to become an RN is to get your associate’s degree. Typically, this takes about two years, though in a paramedic to RN program, it may not take as long. You can alternatively choose to get your bachelor’s degree, which takes an additional two years, but which qualifies you for leadership positions and a higher starting salary as an RN. In many states, you’ll also eligible to complete advanced nursing tasks if you have your bachelor’s degree. From there, you can become a special type of RN called an advanced practice nurse, or APN, which requires you to earn a master’s degree in nursing. Some nurses additionally go on to get a doctorate degree in the field, which qualifies you for top nursing positions, not only as a practitioner, but also as an educator or researcher.

RN Salary

As of May 2009, there were over 2.5 million nurses in the United States, making an average of $66,530 annually. If you get an advanced degree, you can expect to earn more than average. Your training as a paramedic puts you at an advantage to work in one of the higher-paying specialties – emergency care – as a nurse, though you could work in other areas of nursing as well.

Daily Tasks as a Nurse

As a nurse, your work will be similar to the work you do now as a paramedic, but you may not be put in a first-responder situation as often (or at all). Instead of focusing on making sure a patient remains alive and no more damage is done to the body, you’ll help doctors come up with a long-term care solution, focusing on the future rather than the present. Your specific daily tasks will depend on the type of nurse you become.

Paramedic to RN Online Programs

There are several schools that offer accredited nursing programs to help you transition from a career as a paramedic to one as an RN. You can even start from scratch and take most or all of your classes towards being a nurse online.

Paramedic to RN
EMT to BS in EMS Mgmt

The College Network -- Paramedics can earn RN licensure in as little as 18 months through this AS in nursing program (paramedic to RN) from The College Network. No campus attendance is required, and the program is structured to accommodate the busy schedules of EMT and fire service professionals. The College Network also offers an EMT to BS in EMS Management degree for emergency medical technicians looking to advance their careers into emergency medical services management.