If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the hunt for a good nurse discount. In my humble little opinion, we do a lot of good in this world and we all deserve a little treat. Am I right? The problem is that these aforementioned discounts are often labeled as First Responder discounts. This had me doing quite a few confused Google searches of “Is a nurse a first responder?” on more than one occasion.

So here we are. I’m bringing you all the tea so you don’t have to go hunting for the answers yourselves.

Who Qualifies as a First Responder?

Believe it or not, there is an official legal definition of a “First Responder”. I know, it’s very fancy. The state of California defines a First Responder as someone who “provides emergency response services”, which means he/she works in one of the following professions:

• A peace officer. This includes:
  • Police officers, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers
  • Federal agents (including those who work with the FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Park police
• A firefighter
• A paramedic
• An emergency medical technician (EMT)
• A public safety dispatcher or public safety telecommunicator
  • Which is described as someone “whose primary responsibility is to receive, process, transmit, or dispatch emergency and non-emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and other public safety services”.
  • So basically a 911 dispatcher

If you really want to get into it, there’s also a federal definition of a First Responder (though I must warn you, it’s not exactly a riveting read). The United States Department of Labor defines First Responders as

police officers, detectives, deputy sheriffs, state troopers, highway patrol officers, investigators, inspectors, correctional officers, parole or probation officers, park rangers, fire fighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, ambulance personnel, rescue workers, hazardous materials workers and similar employees (“first responders”) who perform work such as preventing, controlling or extinguishing fires of any type; rescuing fire, crime or accident victims; preventing or detecting crimes; conducting investigations or inspections for violations of law; performing surveillance; pursuing, restraining and apprehending suspects; detaining or supervising suspected and convicted criminals, including those on probation or parole; interviewing witnesses; interrogating and fingerprinting suspects; preparing investigative reports; and other similar work

So there you have it. This is my fancy way of saying that nurses are usually not considered First Responders (womp womp). However, some caveats might be helpful to know.

Federal and State Law For First Responders

I use the term usually because there are legal definitions for the term “First Responder” that vary from state to state. Oftentimes, “the states have differing categories for emergency response providers or first responders,” which can impact funding for specific government programs.

But that’s not all that varies from state to state. It’s also good to be aware of some other legal implications when acting as a First Responder.

The National Library of Medicine has a great article on the good Samaritan law, which has been adopted by “all 50 states and the District of Columbia.” I just wanted to point out that

The details of good Samaritan laws vary by jurisdiction, including who is protected (physicians, emergency medical technicians, and other first responders) from liability and under what circumstances.  In general, these laws do not protect medical personnel from liability if acting in the course of their usual profession …. Most good Samaritan laws do not apply to medical professionals or career emergency responders during on-the-job conduct. However, some extend protection to professional rescuers when they are acting in a volunteer capacity.

In this case, “acting in a volunteer capacity” might be considered providing emergency care at the scene of a car accident or a natural disaster. Though we’re nitpicking at this point, it’s never a bad idea to have a general understanding of how protected you are when it comes to acting outside of your official role.

When — If Ever — Are Nurses First Responders?

Generally speaking, the basic premise behind being a First Responder is this: You are one of the first ones at the scene and are actively working to triage, stabilize, and provide medical care. This usually means that if you work in a hospital setting, it doesn’t technically count. However, in certain emergencies (and in certain roles), nurses ARE considered First Responders.

Registered Nurses May be First Responders During a Mass Casualty Incident

Some situations are considered “all hands on deck” and employ everyone possible to the scene. This might include natural disasters or mass casualty incidents (such as mass shootings). Another scenario might involve a nurse stopping at the scene of a car accident and providing emergency care until paramedics arrive to transport the victim to the hospital.

Are ER or Trauma Nurses First Responders?

ER nurses and Trauma nurses are generally not considered First Responders (I know, it’s weird).

First of all, I have a TON of respect for ER and trauma nurses (no seriously, I could never do what you do and am so impressed by you guys). However, the term First Responders refers more to the emergency medical personnel who are out and about in the field. Emergency response teams made up of emergency medical technicians and other healthcare professionals providing emergency care are considered First Responders before emergency room nurses. If you’re responding to an emergency scene BEFORE a patient gets to the hospital, you’re probably considered a First Responder.

What About Flight Nurses?

When it comes to being considered a First Responder, flight nursing is one of the few nursing specialties that operates a bit differently. Because flight nurses are part of the emergency response team and are actively participating in stabilizing critically ill patients en route to the hospital, flight nurses ARE usually considered first responders.

Though most nurses are generally NOT considered First Responders, they ARE considered frontline workers.

What Is a Frontline Worker in Healthcare?

Frontline workers are “employees in an organization that provide some essential service to the general public.” As you can imagine, healthcare services are considered an essential service. In a healthcare setting, this refers to anyone who provides direct patient care or works in a setting where patients are seen. Such jobs might include:

• Nurses and nursing assistants
• Doctors
• Therapists (think Respiratory, Physical, Occupational, or Speech therapists)
• Technicians (such as Radiology, CT, etc)
• Support staff such as hospital security, custodians, transport team members, and anyone else who allows hospital operations to continue)

Though this is not an all-inclusive list, frontline workers in healthcare are basically considered those who work in roles that either provide direct patient care or support those providing direct patient care. When it comes to industries outside of healthcare, there are many different job titles included in the list of roles that are considered frontline workers.

If you’re wondering why this matters, it’s no secret that this distinction between essential and non-essential workers heavily impacted your job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline workers (especially in a healthcare setting) are also usually considered the first in line when it comes to getting certain vaccines, and can sometimes be eligible for certain discount programs.

Can Nurses Get a First Responder Discount?

The short answer is: Yes! Though they might not always be called “First Responder Discounts,” there are tons of nurse discount programs out there.

One of my favorite places to find nursing discounts is on ID.me. The website just requires that you provide proof that you are a Registered Nurse. Discounts are year-round and include everything from apparel to experiences to groceries.

At any given time, there are also tons of websites that offer lists of nursing discounts, especially during Nurses Week). Some great lists include:

• 90+ Nurse Discounts, Coupons, and Exclusive Deals 2023 from Nurse.Org
• 101 Nurse Discounts You Can Enjoy Year-Round by The Krazy Coupon Lady
• Nurse Discounts for Nurses Month and Year-round by American Mobile
• 60+ Nurse Discounts and Deals by Badge Discounts

I would also encourage you to read up on some other nurse perks programs like Homes for Heroes and car insurance discounts for nurses. The possibilities are endless!

Though we might not (always) technically be considered First Responders, nurses sure can get their hands on some good discounts! We might not always be considered First Responders, but society sure loves nurses. Treat ‘yo self, friends!