Although emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and registered nurses (RNs) work in healthcare, they fulfill significantly different roles. EMTs provide only emergency medicine and have a limited scope of practice authority, while most types of RNs work closely with patients over a longer period and have a much broader scope of practice authority.

If you’re an EMT interested in expanding your responsibilities and skills, you might consider switching from EMT to RN.

Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program can facilitate your career transition from EMT to nursing. Our ABSN program provides an accelerated and accessible pathway that builds upon your prior education so you can graduate with a nursing degree in as few as 16 months.

A career transition can be an exciting time in your life, but be sure to take the time to plan your journey before launching. You’ll want to carefully weigh your reasons for changing careers, research your options and take a closer look at the process.

Can You Go from EMT to Nurse?

It’s possible to transition from a career in emergency medical services (EMS) to nursing. In fact, for many EMTs, nursing represents the next logical step in their healthcare career.

It’s important to research the career requirements before beginning. All nurses need to earn a nursing degree and obtain an RN license. If you have prior college education, you might be able to leverage it toward earning a nursing degree sooner.

Reasons to Switch from Emergency Response to Nursing

There are plenty of reasons to switch from EMT to nursing. Entering nursing allows you to take on more responsibilities and practice with greater autonomy while continuing to function as a collaborative member of a healthcare team.

As an EMT, you also have many transferable skills that are needed as a nurse. These include soft skills, such as critical thinking, emotional resilience and communication, and hard skills, such as patient assessment and basic life support (BLS).

Plus, RNs have much stronger earning potential than EMTs, with a more robust growth rate. RNs can also choose from a broad range of specialties and possible work settings.

How to Transition from EMT to Nurse

The first step in navigating a career transition is researching your options and applying to a nursing school.

Research Your Pathway Options

There is more than one way to become a nurse. Your best pathway depends mainly on your current starting point and career goals. If you have little to no prior college education, you’ll need to enroll in a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.

Another option is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program, which typically takes two years. Although an ADN qualifies you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam, keep in mind that it limits your opportunities for career advancement, as you’ll need a BSN to qualify for graduate programs. Additionally, many employers prefer to hire BSN-prepared nurses.

A third option is the ABSN model, which confers a quality BSN in less time than a traditional BSN program. Some ABSN programs are second-degree programs, which means you must have completed a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.

The ABSN program at Northeastern, however, considers applicants with either a completed bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 62 non-nursing college credits.

One of the most compelling benefits of the ABSN is the accelerated nature. At Northeastern, earning a nursing degree takes as few as 16 months after completing the prerequisites. Other benefits for those switching from EMT to RN through Northeastern’s ABSN include:

• Thorough and immersive curriculum
• Close-knit and diverse nursing cohorts
• Small class sizes
• Three start dates per year
• Hybrid learning approach with online coursework

Navigate the Admission Process

If you’ve decided that the ABSN at Northeastern is right for you, you’ll work with a dedicated admissions counselor to help you navigate the admissions process. First, your counselor will review your eligibility and answer any questions you might have. Then, they can determine which prerequisites you need to complete.

Lastly, you’ll submit your application package, which includes:

• The application
• Official transcripts
• Goal statement
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation

Prepare for Nursing School

While you’re working through the admissions process, take some time to prepare for nursing school. Make sure your vaccinations are current and renew your CPR and BLS certifications, if needed. You’ll also want to purchase nursing school supplies, such as comfortable shoes, a stethoscope and scrubs.

Lastly, consider your financial aid options. You must fill out the FAFSA form to be considered for federal student grants and loans. Other options include scholarships and private loans. Our Office of Financial Aid can connect you to information about financing your nursing education.

Earn Your Nursing Degree

The next step in switching from EMT to nurse is to graduate from nursing school. The schedule for an ABSN program is intense, so prepare to spend a lot of free time studying and completing classwork. While it’ll be challenging, you’ll have the support of the dedicated faculty and your cohort to help you through nursing school.

Northeastern’s ABSN program consists of three main components:

• Coursework: The ABSN coursework is offered online for greater convenience and flexibility, but it still requires you to meet course deadlines. It will establish the groundwork you need to build essential nursing skills.
• Nursing Labs: Labs allow you to apply what you’ve learned to practice. Nursing skills labs teach fundamental nursing skills, like performing patient assessments and inserting nasogastric tubes. Nursing simulation labs, meanwhile, focus on developing your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You’ll work in teams to address simulated patient care situations.
• Clinical Rotations: During clinical rotations, you’ll work alongside clinical instructors and preceptors, providing direct patient care under supervision. You’ll complete clinicals at top healthcare facilities in adult health, pediatrics and public health.

Pass the NCLEX

Earning a nursing degree qualifies you to take the NCLEX, a nationally recognized nurse licensing exam. You’ll need to contact the state Board of Nursing to request authorization to test before you can take the exam.

The exam itself tests you on everything from health promotion to patient safety and beyond. Expect to work through many case studies in which you’ll need to choose the most appropriate nursing response. After passing the exam, you can receive your state-issued nursing license.

Career Opportunities for Nurses with EMT Backgrounds

Switching from EMT to nurse offers significant advantages, such as diverse career specialties and advancement. As a newly licensed RN, you can choose a nursing area relevant to your EMT background, such as emergency room, urgent care, critical care or trauma nursing.

Alternatively, you could go in another direction and choose a nursing specialty that offers a calmer pace, like school nursing or adult gerontology. Keep in mind that it’s possible to switch nursing specialties later in your career.

After gaining clinical experience, you might decide to advance your career and broaden your practice authority. Many RNs choose to return to school to earn a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice to become an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN).

The types of APRNs include:

• Nurse Practitioner
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

Make the Transition at Northeastern University

When you’re ready to advance your healthcare career and switch from EMT to nursing, Northeastern provides an accelerated and supported pathway. With three start dates per year, no waitlist and three locations in Massachusetts and North Carolina, Northeastern can enroll more nursing students quickly.

Contact an admissions counselor at Northeastern today to determine if our ABSN program is right for your career goals.