Sorry about the use of initials without first defining them and thanks to kc2ixe for picking up on my slack. Sometimes I forget that this is an international forum and the US healthcare system is not familiar to all forum members. To add a few comments:

All are well-educated and well-trained healthcare professionals who provide much needed medical care in the appropriate setting.

PA’s can stand for Physician’s Assistant or Physician’s Associate. Their scope of practice will depend upon the state in which they seek to practice. In many states they can prescribe certain medications, perform physicals, perform certain medical procedures (i.e. suturing, evaluating x-rays for fractures) and act as an extension of the physician. You may find them in doctor’s offices providing basic health care, nursing homes and emergency departments.

NP’s or Nurse Practitioners are generally holders of Master Degrees in Nursing have had their RN (Register Nurse) for a period of time. In many states they can prescribe medications, perform detailed health exams and recommend a course of treatment for various conditions. Again, many are found in doctor’s offices providing basic health care, nursing homes and emergency departments. Depending upon the state, NP’s can set up their own nursing practice.


Some of the roles of PA’s and NP’s are blurred and are dependent upon the state in which the individual wishes to practice.

My point in the original post was to point out some of uniqueness and specialization of each of these healthcare professionals and that each is a valued member of the healthcare system. To give you an idea of the specialization of skills (again may vary by state), most inter-hospital transports of Advanced Life Support (ALS) patients requires both a RN and Paramedic to accompany the patient. The RN generally monitors medication and medical procedures initiated in the hospital i.e. I.V. drips, catheters, chest tubes, where the paramedic is there to provide ALS interventions such as intubations, cardoversion and certain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACSL) medications, that are out of the scope of practice for the RN. In some areas (inter-hospital flight transport is one example), individuals are required to have both, an RN and paramedic standing. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) whether they are EMT-B (Basic)’s, EMT-I (Intermediate)’s or EMT-P (Paramedic)’s, are all healthcare professionals and are vital members of the pre-hospital emergency medical system. Hope some of this helps. Pete

Pete,
On my list of "want to do" is take my EMT-B classes - just "for me" - probably next year, post elections. My wife has given me the OK. Don't intend to USE it much - I already do enoungh Vol work with ARES, but I class it as "good to know"

BTW My wife has family in your area - Some in Fredrick, some over in Jefferson

I think the class wil be of great value and you should enjoy the experience.

Frederick County as a whole has grown too fast too soon. Jefferson, while it is also growing, is still, for the most part, small town USA. Pete

Thanks kc2ixe and Pete. That puts the system in perspective now.

The only certain thing for my near future is that i will take a gap year when i finish high school this year. I want to do a surf-lifesaving course and the equivalent (I think) of an EMT-B course before i go to America to be a counsler on a "summer camp". From there, i will travel with a mate of mine.

[daydream on] Oh, to experience the wonders of real mil-spec #550 paracord, sparlites, spydercos, strarflashes, Moras, swedish fire steels, altoids mints (and tins)... [daydream continued]

Sounds good to me.

Thanks to Bagheera, I now own (since Monday) a sparklite and a swedish military firesteel, and soon a starflash (from him again <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
I also have a mora and some Altoids mints and tins (from UK)
Sorry, I didn't mean to brag. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hmmm... been in and around emergency medicine for a very long time. My sister is a career paramedic (20 years and counting) and makes about $62,000 a year, so the pay isn't all that bad, trust me. It's good field to get into.

Ditchfield. Feel free to add any of that stuff to the "lending library" <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. And if it is a hassle, I'll pay for the shipping!

Hmmm <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. I could probably send you some tins of Altoids if you really wanted <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Oh Joy! It's Christmas all over again!

yeah bagheera is a great source for goodies, how did YOU pay for it ? I got a sparklite, firesteels, titanium spork, glowring, chuncks of mayawood and pink wax paper from him. I somehow can't manage to emty those altoid mint, had to resort to giving the contents away once ( was getting despirate ), no mora's, but i got the beter swedish stuff, F1 and S1 fallkniven, yeah this IS braging, but atleast i admit it ! <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I hope mine starflash and mine newpackpack arrives tomorrow, they are suppose to be sent in one day, but occationally it takes 2 days.. tomorow is day 2, so either much joy or a getting very ******