Paramedics VS Nurses: Who’s School is Harder

When thinking about the next step in your career, a lot of people wonder if they should go the LPN route or Paramedic route.

Its a great question with a lot of factors to consider. I’m going to cover the pros and cons of each one.

Then I’ll give my recommendation on which route you should take.

Word of caution, I have been a paramedic for 5 years and working in pre-hospital EMS for 13. I may be a little biased.

Paramedic or Nurse?

Paramedics can provide a higher level of care than LPNs. They also require less time to get there.

But is it that simple?

LPNs have a much higher earning potential over the course of their career than paramedics. They have a direct route to becoming an RN and even NP.

So let’s go over what each route has to offer.

And if you don’t want to read, he’s a good video on the topic.

Paramedic School

Getting your paramedic certification takes between 1,200 and 1,800 hours. While a lot, it’s typically less than getting an LPN.

As a paramedic, you get to administer medications, read EKGs, and make life saving decisions. All that without some doctor looking over your shoulder every second.

Plus there is a lot less butt wiping as a paramedic. Can’t say zero, but it’s less.

That’s what makes medic class so hard. You have so much to learn and you do it in less than a year. It’s basically all you have time for during those 6-10 months.

And once you’re out of class, you’re the highest level of medical care on a call. Your patients are relying on you and you alone. It’s a lot of responsibility.

If you want to see what it takes to succeed in Paramedic school look at this post here.

School as an LPN

Licensed Practical Nurses or LPNs take a year of full-time school to get their certification.

They typically act as assistants to RNs, NPs, and doctors. They can’t give medications or make diagnoses.

Doesn’t sound very exciting to me.

LPN classes are still fast paced and have a lot of information to absorb.

All that material can be hard for some students. In that regard, it’s like medic class.

At the end of the day LPN’s have less responsibility and schooling prepares them less for patient care than paramedic school.

Is LPN Ever a Good Option

There is an upside to getting your LPN. It sets you up for moving on to RN or NP.

Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners make way more than paramedics.

They also have more responsibility, and a higher level of care compared to paramedics.

But no matter what route you choose, Pocket Prep has you covered. They have both nursing and paramedic- and a lot more- practice tests available.

And I’m super excited to be affiliated with them. We use pocket prep for everyone going through our EMT and Paramedic programs.

Nearly every student has great feedback on the app.

Plus it’s nice to always have a study guide on hand when you have a little free time.

So you can follow the link HERE if you want to check out what Pocket Prep can do for you. Also it helps out the blog a lot and doesn’t cost you anything extra.

Paramedic Class or LPN

If you want to move further up in your medical career or want to get out of the pre-hospital setting, starting with LPN might be the way to go.

Paramedics and LPNs make the same amount coming out of school. So it really depends on what you want to do in the future.

If you want to further your career in medicine, start as an LPN. It sets you up for further education and advancement.

But if you love pre-hospital EMS, nothing beats paramedicine.

And being a paramedic in no way prevents you from moving up in your medical career.

Medic tends to be more exciting and has more they can do on emergency calls, but you need to do what’s best for you and your career.

Long story short, paramedic classes are shorter and tend to be harder than LPN classes. Both get paid about the same, but LPN sets you up for RN a little bit better.

I hope this gives you some insight into which route to take. If you have any questions, shoot me an email at themedicmentor@gmail.com

And if you decide on paramedic, find our full resource page here.