Looking for some advice

[PaulieThePirate]

I’m a new EMT-B who wants to be a paramedic. I would like to start paramedic school next year but I’ve been getting a lot of mixed reviews. Most tell me that I’m to new to the field and that I should get more experience first. I’ve had equal amounts of people tell me that this would be a good time in my life to do it. Since I don’t have anything tying me down. Do you recommend that I wait or get started with the school? Can anyone recommend schools in the Boston area?

 

[Ridryder911]

Having experience is nice and required in some areas, but should NOT be. Check for nationally accredited programs, while in school then after you have obtained your general education start searching for a good Paramedic program.

Don't just settle for the EMT class. It's just above a first aid course, and you probably found out it is hard to get a job working directly with emergency services. Go all the way or nothing, if you are serious about this profession.

R/r 911

 

[Ms.Medic]

I second that !!! Dont wait. Just go for it, you'll either get it, or you wont.

 

[PapaBear434]

I’m a new EMT-B who wants to be a paramedic. I would like to start paramedic school next year but I’ve been getting a lot of mixed reviews. Most tell me that I’m to new to the field and that I should get more experience first. I’ve had equal amounts of people tell me that this would be a good time in my life to do it. Since I don’t have anything tying me down. Do you recommend that I wait or get started with the school? Can anyone recommend schools in the Boston area?

I just got bopped in the head for saying this, but I would say to get a couple shifts under your belt as BLS before you to to medic school. It's the foundation to everything we do, even ALS, so you better have that down first.

But, still, it depends on your situation. In my area, they take for granted that you know a lot of stuff from being on the ambulance and watching the medics.

Then, it also might depend on your personality. For me, it was beneficial to spend a few months getting released BLS and working it to get a better sense of what the real life side of EMS is. Trying to master BLS and learning ALS would have likely been too much for me and I would have burned out. If you are the kind of person that thrives on the pressure and loves to fast track, however, you may LOVE doing just that.

So really, it comes down to how much you want to put on your shoulders all at once. Now that I am in ALS, I'm doing the fast track, but I wanted to get my basics down to instinct first. Others claim that the "zero to hero" route is the way to go, as you don't have time to develop bad BLS habits before moving on to the ALS side of things.

Your mileage may vary depending on who you are.

 

[QSMITH89]

I know I wasn't the one that started this topic, I just started by basic class and I'll be taking my medic after that, so thanks for all the great advice.

 

[sir.shocksalot]

I’m a new EMT-B who wants to be a paramedic. I would like to start paramedic school next year but I’ve been getting a lot of mixed reviews. Most tell me that I’m to new to the field and that I should get more experience first. I’ve had equal amounts of people tell me that this would be a good time in my life to do it. Since I don’t have anything tying me down. Do you recommend that I wait or get started with the school? Can anyone recommend schools in the Boston area?

Get some experience first. While I agree with everyone who is about to flame me in saying that you should just be educated straight to a paramedic level. As EMS stands right this second, you need experience to excel as a paramedic. How much experience is totally up to you. It took me about six months to feel comfortable with all my skills and that got me a good working knowledge of ALS procedures. But as most people on this forum will point out, what do i know? I'm just an ambulance driver.

 

[PaulieThePirate]

Thanks for all the insight I think your response was just what I needed to hear. I will have a little experience before hand considering the classes don’t start for another 7mnths. Now I just need to find a good school in the area. Thanks again B)

 

[medic417]

There is no reason to stop and work as a basic. No other medical field stops and works at the lower level. They get educated then go out. If you choose a quality program you will do more good getting your Paramedic rather than wasting time and picking up bad habits from those that do the job wrong. Remember the statement practice makes perfect. Well that statement is wrong. It should say perfect practice makes perfect, because if you practice the wrong way you will never get perfect or good.

 

[BossyCow]

There is no reason to stop and work as a basic. .

Depending on the state, you may need to work as a basic for a year or so before being allowed to apply to medic school. Check out the prereqs in your area.

 

[medic417]

Depending on the state, you may need to work as a basic for a year or so before being allowed to apply to medic school. Check out the prereqs in your area.

Thank you. While it is not needed for your benefit some states do require you waste a year before getting your Paramedic education.

 

[NomadicMedic]

Thank you. While it is not needed for your benefit some states do require you waste a year before getting your Paramedic education.

...or THREE years.

King County Paramedic Trainee

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
This position requires three (3) years of field experience as an EMT or Paramedic in a pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services setting, one (1) year of which must be consecutive experience with a single agency. If you do not have at least three years of experience you do not qualify to participate in the testing process. No exceptions will be made.

 

[AJ Hidell]

As always, Ridryder911 is the one to listen to here. He's the only experienced paramedic educator with advanced education who has commented on the thread so far. You'll want to take advice on advanced education, from those who have no advanced education, with a grain of salt, at best.

To elaborate on Rid's succinct points:

Having experience is nice and required in some areas, but should NOT be.

Although some schools may require it, EMT experience is not necessary or even advisable for success in paramedic school. it's just a hoop that people want you to jump through so that you don't get ahead any faster than they did. It may help you decide if you really want to do EMS for a career, if you are at all unsure. But otherwise, EMT experience is completely overrated and will almost always delay your professional development. Do you wish you had taken a couple years off between middle school and high school to get life "experience"? Of course not. Nuff said. It's not even a sound theory. Avoid it if at all possible.

Check for nationally accredited programs...

Here is where to find Nationally Accredited programs:

http://www.caahep.org/Find_An_Accredited_Program.aspx

Don't bother looking for Massachusetts. There is not a single accredited program in the entire state. You're going to have to leave the state to find accredited paramedic education.

...after you have obtained your general education start searching for a good Paramedic program.

The general education Rid speaks of is the scientific (physical and social sciences) foundational education found in the college prerequisite courses that are recommended for pre-paramedic preparation. Just because you attend a school that doesn't require them doesn't mean you shouldn't take them. Before you even think of applying for a paramedic school, you should complete, as a very minimum, the following college courses:

* Anatomy & Physiology I and II with laboratories
* Microbiology
* Chemistry I
* Algebra
* Intro Psychology
* Developmental Psychology
* Intro Sociology

There are other courses that will be required for graduation with a degree, and are important to your professional development. However, those courses are not science courses, and can be completed concurrently with medic courses without completely overloading you, if you are a good student. The above listed courses will take you a full semester year to complete. If you need to work as an EMT during that time to make ends meet, that is understandable. However again, it is not recommended. Not only does work experience as an EMT give you numerous bad habits and bad ideas that hurt you as a medic student, but it is simply almost impossible to attend college full time and get maximum benefit from your courses while working an EMT schedule. So again, if at all possible, avoid working as an EMT during this time.

Whether or not you choose a degree program is not as important as the quality of the program itself. So long as you complete the same college prerequisites BEFORE attending a tech school certificate program, your final educational preparation can be every bit as good as any degree program. And many colleges will allow you to transfer that tech school time over to them to complete your degree in a very short time. But remember that, when it comes to education, more is better. It doesn't matter if your school lasts 4 months or two years, it still all breaks down to actual hours. Regardless of how many months it took, a 2000 hour course beats an 800 hour course any day. Look for quality and quantity when choosing your school.

Good luck!

 

[AJ Hidell]

Check out the prereqs in your area.

Or leave your area, which is always advisable in Massachusetts.

 

[PaulieThePirate]

Or leave your area, which is always advisable in Massachusetts.

leaving mass may have been the best advice so far. lol

 

[HasTy]

Ok the best advice I can give you is to learn from my mistake go for a paramedic degree at least an AAS preferably an BS

 

[medic417]

Ok the best advice I can give you is to learn from my mistake go for a paramedic degree at least an AAS preferably an BS

Thank you for a brutally painful honest answer.

 

[AJ Hidell]

Thank you for a brutally painful honest answer.

Props for that. And I would also admit that, the reason my advice is so good is not because I did everything right. The reason my advice is so good is because I did so many things wrong.

A mistake that is learned from is not really a mistake at all. It's education.

 

[reaper]

I just got bopped in the head for saying this, but I would say to get a couple shifts under your belt as BLS before you to to medic school. It's the foundation to everything we do, even ALS, so you better have that down first.

But, still, it depends on your situation. In my area, they take for granted that you know a lot of stuff from being on the ambulance and watching the medics.

Then, it also might depend on your personality. For me, it was beneficial to spend a few months getting released BLS and working it to get a better sense of what the real life side of EMS is. Trying to master BLS and learning ALS would have likely been too much for me and I would have burned out. If you are the kind of person that thrives on the pressure and loves to fast track, however, you may LOVE doing just that.

So really, it comes down to how much you want to put on your shoulders all at once. Now that I am in ALS, I'm doing the fast track, but I wanted to get my basics down to instinct first. Others claim that the "zero to hero" route is the way to go, as you don't have time to develop bad BLS habits before moving on to the ALS side of things.

Your mileage may vary depending on who you are.

PB, this is not directed at you. You just happen to state what others throw out there!

What BLS skills are takings people months or years to master?

Taking a BP?
Splinting?
Bandaging?
Backboarding?

I see no skill that an EMT should not have mastered by the time they graduate.

The only skill to learn is dealing with pt's. That one you should have down before class. Can you talk to people and carry on a conversation?

Are you shy and timid and afraid to speak to people?

You can guess which person will succeed in a medical profession. Remember one thing. Not everyone is cut out for the medical field. If schools would go back to screening students. This would be headed off at the pass!

 

[PapaBear434]

PB, this is not directed at you. You just happen to state what others throw out there!

What BLS skills are takings people months or years to master?

Taking a BP?
Splinting?
Bandaging?
Backboarding?

I see no skill that an EMT should not have mastered by the time they graduate.

The only skill to learn is dealing with pt's. That one you should have down before class. Can you talk to people and carry on a conversation?

Are you shy and timid and afraid to speak to people?

You can guess which person will succeed in a medical profession. Remember one thing. Not everyone is cut out for the medical field. If schools would go back to screening students. This would be headed off at the pass!

Taking a proper assessment and knowing what questions to ask, mostly. Moving a patient, properly driving the rig L&S, dealing with a wide array of patients, and generally seeing things in real life. Seeing SVT in real life is a lot different from just reading it in a book.

It just depends on the kind of person you are, and what environment your area teaches in.

 

[BossyCow]

And yet another thread in the BLS forum morphs into ALS