[KingDing]

Hi all,

Need some help here guys. I'm 30 and decided after working 3 years as a Mental Health Support Worker I want to go further.

I dont want to be a MH nurse but would like to work in A&E, I better at emergencys. My second job is event security which I work with Responce Teams, i,e medical and other bits.

I will also start an Access to nursing course very shorly.

Now i'm really confussed because I have been told I would be better suited at being a Paramedic. Ive asked everyone for advice and help but as alway I get "Only you can decide". I have checked with the uni's and the Access course can be used for either.

Now I would you to convince me to be a Paramedic or Nurse!

Thank You.

[Elwyn]

What are you looking to get out of your career? Is money important to you?

Nurses have excellent pay and can earn upwards of £30k quite easily.
Paramedics however earn only around £26k I think, but then you get to be on the front line in those crucial first moments. This probably means paramedics have more responsibility (if that's the right word) and so that should also be considered. Plus you get to drive around fast!

[zippyRN]

who is telling you you would be better as a Paramedic ? unfortunately a lot of Nurses and a lot of Paramedics are utterly ignorant of the other job or of the realities of clinical practice in the 'other' area . I t also doesn't help that some paramedics have a huge chip on their shoulder that there are Nurses out there who can do everything a paramedic can do apart from access the stat exemption drugs via the stat exemption.

[zippyRN]

(Original post by Elwyn)
What are you looking to get out of your career? Is money important to you?

Nurses have excellent pay and can earn upwards of £30k quite easily.
Paramedics however earn only around £26k I think, but then you get to be on the front line in those crucial first moments. This probably means paramedics have more responsibility (if that's the right word) and so that should also be considered. Plus you get to drive around fast!

Nurses and paramedics are paid the same - both are Band 5 on entry and promotion to band 6 requires substantial expansion of clinical skills or taking on managerial responsibilities - there are differences in pay from the different unsocial hours pay systems - Nurses are paid per unsocial hours worked and paramedics are banded ( this is because pre-AFC the ambulance service had sold it's shift allowances back for higher basic pay sometime in the early - mid 1980s - where people either worked the rota they were given or left)

Paramedics and Nurses have the same accountability before the law and professional regulators ( although there are differences in how the HPC and the NMC treat different kinds of FTP issues )

many of the stated 'greater autonomy' aspects of the paramedic role are illusory at best, as last time i looked a Nurse wasn't GPS tracked throughout his/her shift and didn't have every patient record completed scrutinised by lay managers who mark it out of ten ...

[KingDing]

Thanks Guys, Very interesting points.

Money is not really an issue as its better that i'm on now. I feel like a front line kind of person. Also told i may have to spend a long time in genaral wards before I ever get a looksie at A&E, how true, i dont know, but I know a genaral ward would be difficult for me (but much respect given).

[Politricks]

I guess being a paramedic is more exciting (and upsetting and horrifying, of course).

[KingDing]

(Original post by Politricks)
I guess being a paramedic is more exciting (and upsetting and horrifying, of course).

Working MH services i'm come deal and accept the upsetting and sometimes terrifing incidents. Still effects me but I can deal with it. I think anyone that it does not affect, is worrying and sometimes a risk.

[restoration]

(Original post by Politricks)
I guess being a paramedic is more exciting (and upsetting and horrifying, of course).

It could be however I have seen some very upsetting and horrifying things training to be a nurse

Nursing gives you more chance to branch out and progress, I want to work in A&E when I am qualified you will have to work on general wards and stuff but I think that's good experience. You can work as a rapid response nurse, who are first to the scence. How much of a confident driver are you?

[Politricks]

(Original post by restoration)
It could be however I have seen some very upsetting and horrifying things training to be a nurse

Nursing gives you more chance to branch out and progress, I want to work in A&E when I am qualified you will have to work on general wards and stuff but I think that's good experience. You can work as a rapid response nurse, who are first to the scence. How much of a confident driver are you?

I'm 16, I don't drive; does Battlefield 3 or Need for Speed count?

[zippyRN]

(Original post by Politricks)
I'm 16, I don't drive; does Battlefield 3 or Need for Speed count?

in the UK you are basically unemployable as a Paramedic if you don't have a Full cat B driving licence and you will find it very hard to get work without Cat C1 or cat C, as many ambulances are C1 and the HART tenders are C1 or C. You wouldalso need to pass the emergency driving course .