EMT Job Description

• EMTs must be calm under pressure.emt-paramedic image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com
  
  Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) respond to emergency situations, often dispatched by 911 or police dispatchers. Upon arrival at the scene, EMTs assess the medical condition of the patients and provide any immediate care necessary for transport. EMTs then communicate the medical condition and any other relevant information to staff at the hospital or medical facility. There are several levels of EMTs. The First Responder has the least amount of education. There is also EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic.
  
  

RN Job Description

• Registered Nurses or RNs may have widely varied job duties depending on their specialty. The basic responsibilities of an RN include caring for patients by gathering medical history, assisting in diagnostic tests and administering medication. They also are responsible for educating patients and their families about the conditions, treatments, home care and other relevant information. There are many areas of specialty for RNs including emergency nursing, occupational nursing, mental health nursing and rehabilitation nursing, to name a few.
  
  

Education

• Nurses require more education than EMTs to start.education cut-out image by araraadt from Fotolia.com
  
  A person must have a high school diploma to enter into an EMT certification program. According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, 24 hours of coursework is required to complete the EMT-Basic Training. The candidate must then pass the exams required by the state in which they live to obtain EMT certification. Additional training is required to reach higher certification. To become an RN, a person must either complete a bachelor of science in nursing, or complete both an associate degree in nursing and obtain a diploma. The individual must then pass the state board exam to obtain his or her license. Much more education is required to become a RN than an EMT.
  
  

Work Environment

• EMTs work in both indoor and outdoor conditions. Because they are responding to emergencies, EMTs are exposed to highly stressful situations. In addition, they are required to treat the patient where they are found. This may require lifting and kneeling. RNs typically work in comfortable hospitals or medical facilities and are required to do a lot of walking and standing. Both RNs and EMTs are exposed to contagious diseases and blood-borne pathogens. In addition, both may be expected to work long and irregular hours.
  
  

Job Outlook and Salary

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook for EMTs, employment is expected to grow at a rate of 9 percent between 2008 and 2018, providing a favorable job outlook. The median salary range for EMTs is between $11.13 and $18.28 per hour. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook for RNs, employment is expected to grow at a rate of 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. The median salary for RNs is between $51,640 and $76,570 per year. Assuming a 40-hour work week, this works out to $23 to $34 per hour. RNs earn more and have a more favorable job outlook than EMTs, but more education is required to become a RN.