What is a Paramedic?
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A paramedic is a medical professional who provides medical care to patients en route to hospitals or other medical facilities. As such, a paramedic needs to be well-versed in many kinds of medical treatment. Many paramedics are trained in emergency surgery techniques, especially given the unpredictability of such operations in the field. The primary purpose of the paramedic, however, is to stabilize the patient for transport.
Routinely first on the scene of an accident, the paramedic quickly assesses the situation and determines the proper course of action for each patient. If a person’s injuries are life-threatening, the paramedic might choose to perform some sort of medical procedure right then and there, judging the patient’s chance of making it to a medical facility without radical medical intervention to be slim to none. In most cases, however, the paramedic makes sure that patients are comfortable and properly secured on portable medical tables for insertion into ambulances.
The paramedic accompanies the patient to the hospital or medical facility as well, making sure that the patient maintains his or her condition of stability during the ambulance ride. Since ambulances routinely travel at high rates of speed — in the best interests of their patients — the paramedic can provide sorely needed medical support to a patient whose condition might otherwise deteriorate during what can certainly be a traumatic trip.
More and more, ambulances resemble full hospitals on wheels, with devices such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) and some X-ray devices onboard. Paramedics are trained to properly, quickly, and efficiently use all of these devices. A paramedic will also be trained in administering drugs to patients, both orally and intravenously.
One way to look at a paramedic is to think of him or her as a “doctor on the go.” A paramedic has a large amount of medical training. A common procedure preformed by a paramedic is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Another is assisting with childbirth. Hospitals often employ paramedics on-site as well, utilizing their medical skills to their full advantage. The on-the-go skills that a paramedic can come in handy in a hospital setting, especially in the emergency room, if needed.
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Paramedics are trained to transport the patient safely to hospital. While transporting the patient they do stabilize them, which could mean administering life saving medications. Most paramedics work within protocol and in conjunction with an emergency department, hence they are not just prescribing any drugs and administering them. A Registered Nurse's training is mostly geared towards a hospital environment. There are some RNs that do work in the field, but most do not. Registered Nurses have varying degrees of education ranging all the way to the Ph.D level. A study showed 35 percent of RN's have bachelors degrees, much higher than a paramedic certificate or associate degree. This is why nurses will not take orders from a paramedic; nurses are more educated. Although paramedics might be able to perform an intubation (this is a skill that can be taught) there are many nurses who can intubate patients. Nurses have more theoretical knowledge because of their length of education. Paramedics serve a vital role in health care, but they are not above a Registered Nurse. - anon46911
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I very much agree with the medic from new jersey. We have the same situation in chicago where a nurse is considered to have more advanced skills than a medic. I think it's total bs because we don't have to be told what to do by a doctor. medics can just do what needs to be done according to their smo. I hate when nurses always think they're better than a paramedic. - anon40350
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Interesting information Anon16144. But, remember, there are paramedics outside of the US, and I don't know if similar rules that US nursing unions have gotten passed apply there too. Also, even in the US, my guess is that if there is a tragedy or a hospital is overworked for some reason, they would welcome a paramedic that could administer, say, a life saving drug even if goes against the normal rules, if there weren't enough nurses to do it themselves. - tdwb7476
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About drugs being applied 'both orally and intravenously' - That implies that there are only two routes of drug administration. Enteral and parenteral would be more encompassing and accurate.About 'paramedic skills coming in handy in the ER' - While handy, they are mostly prohibited, thanks to the strength of many nursing unions which prohibit any other title from performing an RN's job. As such, many paramedic skills overlap with nursing skills (ie. IV access, drug administration, NG tubes, etc.) so not much is left for a paramedic to do other than basic PCA/UAP functions. Further, a nurse is considered a higher medical authority than a paramedic and is prohibited by the Nurse Practice Act from delegating an RN function to a healthcare provider who falls below the level of RN. In a few instances, the paramedics skill set fall outside the (non-specially trained) RN's - such as with intubation. The RN cannot delegate a duty he/she him/herself is not authorized to perform. This has always been a sore topic for paramedics who hold the minority voice on the debate (at least in NJ at a ratio of about 1000 active paramedics in the state vs. about 90,000 RNs) and are almost exclusively unable to perform to the full level of their training in-hospital. - anon16144
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Written by
David White
Last Modified: 29 September 2009
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