What’s the difference between an EMT vs. nurse? Nurses generally earn more, have a greater scope of practice, and can work at all stages of patient care, whereas EMTs focus on emergency medicine. Go from EMT to RN by earning your nursing degree and then obtaining licensure.
People are often drawn to the healthcare field because they desire a meaningful career that allows them to serve others. Any healthcare career can be rewarding, but sometimes it’s worth it to explore making a career transition. If you’re already working as an emergency medical technician (EMT), it may be beneficial to consider making the switch from being an EMT to a registered nurse (RN).
There are many compelling reasons to pursue a career change, such as the possibility of a higher earning potential or a quicker path into nursing through options like Concordia University Texas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track. However, before deciding whether to change your career path, it’s wise to spend some time exploring your options and learning about the difference between EMT and nursing careers.
EMT vs. Nursing: Key Differences to Consider
As a current EMT, you already know the ins and outs of the emergency medical landscape. Your current career does have a few things in common with nursing. For example, both healthcare careers involve providing direct patient care. Beyond this, there are quite a few differences to consider.
Look at some of the differences in your day-to-day practice that you will encounter if you make the career change from EMT to RN:
| EMT | Nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of Practice | Emergency response; pre-hospital care | All stages of patient care |
| Training | Less intensive and comprehensive, with a focus on basic life support and emergency medicine procedures | More extensive and comprehensive, with bachelor’s degrees covering a range of nursing topics across the lifespan |
| Typical Responsibilities | Immediate care — CPR, bleeding control, immobilization and emergency transport | All stages of care — Assessments, diagnostic tests, medication and treatment administration, care coordination and patient education |
| Practice Authority | EMTs work under the supervision of more advanced emergency medical services staff. | Nurses have greater autonomy and decision-making authority, collaborating alongside physicians and other providers on patient care. |
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Benefits of Switching From EMT to Nursing
Some of the benefits of transitioning from EMT to nursing are evident in the chart above; you’ll have greater decision-making authority and enjoy a broader scope of responsibilities. This transition can be ideal for EMTs interested in expanding their skills and taking on new challenges. Nurses, for example, can choose from a wide range of nursing specialties — pediatrics, oncology, home health nursing and so many more.
Other perks of going from EMT to RN are the salary potential and job growth rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, EMTs and other emergency medical services staff members made a median annual salary of $44,780 as of May 2023, compared with a median annual salary of $86,070 for RNs.
Furthermore, the job growth rate for EMTs is projected to be 5% from 2022 through 2032 (14,600 new jobs), compared with 6% for RNs during the same time period (177,400 new jobs).
How to Transition From EMT to Nursing
If you’ve decided to go from being an EMT to an RN but you aren’t quite sure how to get started, then you may be relieved to learn that the process might not be as lengthy as you’d think. The journey of every aspiring nurse may be a little different, but in general, the following steps will apply:
Find the Right Nursing Track for You
The first step is to find the right school and degree that fit your needs. If you have no prior college credits, you can apply to a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. If you do have a minimum amount of non-nursing college credits — in any field — then you may be eligible to apply to the ABSN track at Concordia University Texas.
Our ABSN track administers a curriculum that allows you to leverage your prior education so that you can earn an accredited nursing degree faster. In fact, you could graduate in as little as 16 months upon the successful completion of any needed prerequisites.
What is nursing school like? Learn all about what you can expect here!
Earn Your BSN
Once you’ve enrolled in a nursing degree track, you’ll need to be ready to commit yourself to your studies. This is especially true if you’re enrolled in an accelerated track, which offers a shorter timeline to graduation due to its fast-paced curriculum.
No matter what type of nursing degree you’re enrolled in, you’ll work through a curriculum that features both lectures on nursing theory and experiential learning. You may complete coursework either online or in person, and you’ll complete in-person nursing skills and nursing simulation labs.
Nursing students also complete a series of clinical rotations in various nursing specialties, which take place at nearby healthcare facilities. They are an opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice by providing direct patient care under the watchful eye of nursing instructors and preceptors.
Pass the NCLEX-RN®
After graduating from nursing school with your degree, the next step is to obtain your nursing license. You’ll be able to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses soon after graduation.
The NCLEX is a rigorous, challenging exam that will test not only your knowledge of nursing concepts but also how well you’re able to make clinically appropriate patient care decisions. It’s ideal to begin preparing for the NCLEX well in advance — as early as your first semester of nursing school.
Obtain Work Experience in Your Nursing Specialty
After obtaining licensure, you’ll be ready to pursue your first job as an RN. By this point, you should have an idea of which nursing specialty suits you best. As a former EMT, you might like the fast-paced nature of the emergency room or urgent care clinic. Or you might prefer to go in a different direction like home health nursing, which would allow you to build longer-lasting relationships with patients and their families.
Consider Additional Credentials to Pursue Advancement
No matter your chosen nursing specialty, you may decide at some point to pursue career advancement — another benefit of making the switch from EMT to nursing. You can go back to school to earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in your chosen nursing specialty. Then, you could obtain board certification to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
There are four main types of APRNs, each with their own subspecialty areas:
- Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
- Nurse practitioner (NP)
- Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified nurse midwife (CNM)
Some RNs decide to pursue career advancement that takes them away from the bedside. You might earn your MSN and pursue a job as a nurse manager or administrator, for example. These types of careers would allow you to have an impact on the quality and delivery of care throughout the department or facility.
Pursue Your Ideal Healthcare Career at Concordia University Texas
When you’re ready to pursue a nursing career, Concordia Texas will be here to provide extensive support as you build a firm academic foundation for your future. Our ABSN track can allow you to graduate in as little as 16 months upon successful completion of the prerequisites, which means you could obtain licensure and begin your nursing career sooner than you’d think.
Concordia Texas is proud to offer a blended learning approach, with online coursework that makes higher education more accessible and hands-on experiential learning in our skills and simulation labs. You’ll also practice caring for patients during clinical rotations in Austin or Dallas, so you can graduate ready to confidently pursue your first nursing job.
Contact an admissions counselor today to learn about the next step in the application process.