Basic to Intermediate

Veneficus

Forum Chief
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it is a waste of time...

Not to go right from EMT to paramedic class.

EMT-B is a skills based program

EMT-I is a skills based program

EMT-P has at least an education component, but you also review the basic skills and perfect them in class.

I am not trying to be anti B or I, but lets face it, you can't find a job because in your area nobody needs and EMT-B. So your skills are being lost and your education is not improving. Then you will go to I and have skills that will be lost as well before you go to paramedic course?

Whoever told you to wait or go to I first are not people whos advice I would take. Nobody tells a physician to be a paramedic, nurse, or PA first.
 

rescue99

Forum Deputy Chief
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It's an I-85. I had to look up what the difference was, but I guess the I-99 course is much longer/more expensive because of the extra skills?

Well, you should do what your time, budget and capabilities allow for now while perhaps seeking a higher level of understanding of A/P. Some can afford that leap of faith while some like to jump and hope they land on solid ground.

Spec is an easy course but like every course, it does take hours out of your day. As an educator, I know students do better when they are prepared and ready to take that next step. No amount of time spent on education is a waste of time (unless it's in phylosophy :p). I know a few Specs who run circles around piss poor medics. If opinions are like ******, just do whatever suits your needs.
 
OP
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B

Babalu

Forum Probie
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Not to go right from EMT to paramedic class.

EMT-B is a skills based program

EMT-I is a skills based program

EMT-P has at least an education component, but you also review the basic skills and perfect them in class.

I am not trying to be anti B or I, but lets face it, you can't find a job because in your area nobody needs and EMT-B. So your skills are being lost and your education is not improving. Then you will go to I and have skills that will be lost as well before you go to paramedic course?

Whoever told you to wait or go to I first are not people whos advice I would take. Nobody tells a physician to be a paramedic, nurse, or PA first.

So you're saying that being an I would not make me any more hireable than a basic? Because basics in NH to my knowledge can't even open up IV's, so I would think I would be more appealing to companies if I had some of those skills. I think going off of other opinions here I would go for it and go straight to medic, but my priority right now is that I just get hired in EMS and start working. It was stupid in hindsight, but I left college to get trained as a basic because I didn't have much direction in school, and I wanted to get straight into the field. Because right now there is no availability for Medic classes in NH, and because it's more of a long term fix than right now, I think i'm gonna do the I program since it' actually available and my department can reimburse me.
 

Shishkabob

Forum Chief
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Just because your state certifies Is doesnt mean people are more willing to hire them over a Basic. Infact, Texas is an I/85 state and I can think of only one place in the whole state that takes Is with any regularity.


Some colleges will let you test for I halfway through your medic program. Maybe check in to that.
 

Veneficus

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So you're saying that being an I would not make me any more hireable than a basic? Because basics in NH to my knowledge can't even open up IV's, so I would think I would be more appealing to companies if I had some of those skills. I think going off of other opinions here I would go for it and go straight to medic, but my priority right now is that I just get hired in EMS and start working. It was stupid in hindsight, but I left college to get trained as a basic because I didn't have much direction in school, and I wanted to get straight into the field. Because right now there is no availability for Medic classes in NH, and because it's more of a long term fix than right now, I think i'm gonna do the I program since it' actually available and my department can reimburse me.

Once I got my medic I had to turn jobs down, my bargaining position also increased substantially.

Linuss is right, most places (not all) don't really need Is, an IFT I is no more useful than an IFT B. It is the medic for ALS transfers and billing they need.
 

MonkeySquasher

Forum Lieutenant
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I was a Basic for 4 years when I took AEMT-I, for the same reason.. I wanted to make sure I had my skills down, and people told me I probably shouldn't jump to Medic.

Halfway through Intermediate I realized that I wasn't learning anything new, I was just being taught IVs and advanced airway procedures that I already knew how to do, but now I was ALLOWED to do them. So I signed up for Medic.

In Medic I've learned everything I SHOULD have known before, and I kick myself for not taking it after I graduated college in 2007. Also, have no fear.. In my class are a bunch of "fresh Basics" with either 1 year on their card, or limited field experience. One of them is my buddy, who is actually the top of our class. It's not always what you know, it's how well you learn what you're being taught. Going to AEMT-I first may just give you bad habits that you'll have to UNLEARN and RELEARN in Medic.
 

bstone

Forum Deputy Chief
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If you're in NH check out NEEMSI
 
OP
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Babalu

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I was a Basic for 4 years when I took AEMT-I, for the same reason.. I wanted to make sure I had my skills down, and people told me I probably shouldn't jump to Medic.

Halfway through Intermediate I realized that I wasn't learning anything new, I was just being taught IVs and advanced airway procedures that I already knew how to do, but now I was ALLOWED to do them. So I signed up for Medic.

In Medic I've learned everything I SHOULD have known before, and I kick myself for not taking it after I graduated college in 2007. Also, have no fear.. In my class are a bunch of "fresh Basics" with either 1 year on their card, or limited field experience. One of them is my buddy, who is actually the top of our class. It's not always what you know, it's how well you learn what you're being taught. Going to AEMT-I first may just give you bad habits that you'll have to UNLEARN and RELEARN in Medic.

Well I guess that pretty much sums it up. Through NEEMSI I can take the Medic course this August, so i'm going to suck it up till then and do that. I appreciate all the advice, everyone.
 

Shishkabob

Forum Chief
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"Suck it up" nothing! Medic school will be over before you know it.

Hell, I've been out for 2 months now! Where does the time go? I hate getting old...


And I'm 21....
 

medic417

The Truth Provider
5,104
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Shishkabob

Forum Chief
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Heck I must be knocking on deaths door if you are old.

We established that a while ago gramps. That's why you live out in the desert... the humidity makes your knees hurt! :ph34r:


Well.. it makes mine hurt too, but I have a bad knee anyhow.

:p
 

medic417

The Truth Provider
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We established that a while ago gramps. That's why you live out in the desert... the humidity makes your knees hurt! :ph34r:


Well.. it makes mine hurt too, but I have a bad knee anyhow.

:p

Why I oughta .........................................ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
 

JonTullos

Forum Captain
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First, I don't like this "zero to hero" mess you keep posting on this thread. Fact is, Basics are just as much a part of EMS as a medic not to mention medic skills ultimately go back to BLS knowledge. As has been told to me over and over: "You've got to be a great Basic before you can be a good medic."

All of that said, stop listening to the bad advice the people around you are giving you. There is absolutely no reason for you to not go for medic right now. BAsics have a hard time finding a job in many places. I don't know about where you are but here services need medics and Basics are a dime a dozen. Go for medic now and skip I. It's not worth it.
 

got_shoes

Forum Crew Member
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I would suggest that you go to either northeasterns medic program or the NH tech program, and get a college degree, why waste your time with only having a cert when you could have a degree. That also looks good on your resume. As far as people telling you not to be a zero to hero, understand NH is a very small state and it seems that if you go right from basic to medic, people tend to question if you know what your doing or not, since you dont have a lot of experience medic class will be difficult, but think back to when medics first started none of them were intermediates. Further more you need to make your own decisions as to what is going to work best for you. If you are listening to a bunch of people who dont have their own elton john patch then maybe you aren't ready for the demands of medic school. Just my 0.2 cents
 

bstone

Forum Deputy Chief
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Go to NEEMSI. They have articulation agreements with colleges and are licensed as a post-secondary institution.

www.neemsi.org
 

got_shoes

Forum Crew Member
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Why would you recommend this program? the three programs are almost the same amount of time. and with 2 out of 3 you leave with a college degree. I think that maybe just maybe the idea that if higher trained EMS personnel had a college degree, we as a profession might be respected, no other medical profession that wants respect says or go to the cert program because they are a part of a college and you can get some college credit. what a joke.
 

bstone

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Why would you recommend this program? the three programs are almost the same amount of time. and with 2 out of 3 you leave with a college degree. I think that maybe just maybe the idea that if higher trained EMS personnel had a college degree, we as a profession might be respected, no other medical profession that wants respect says or go to the cert program because they are a part of a college and you can get some college credit. what a joke.

I went to NEEMSI for Intermediate school. The institute is run by professionals, is hospital-based (part of the Elliot Hospital, a lvl 1 trauma center) and they take the program seriously. The facility is large, the simulators are new, the staff is highly trained.

I sound like an advertisement for them, but I promise I am just a graduate of their program.
 

got_shoes

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I went to NEEMSI for Intermediate school. The institute is run by professionals, is hospital-based (part of the Elliot Hospital, a lvl 1 trauma center) and they take the program seriously. The facility is large, the simulators are new, the staff is highly trained.

I sound like an advertisement for them, but I promise I am just a graduate of their program.

OK, first things first the Elliot is NOT a level 1 trauma center, they are a regional trauma center. There is only one level 1 center in NH and that would be DHMC in Lebanon. I have nothing against NEEMSI, Out of their instructors, 7 total 6 have degree's not one of them has a degree in education, and out of the 6 one has a master's degree. I will give them credit for having instructor's that have college degree's. But to the OP, I would give the best advice as saying go to a program that gives you a college degree, since he seems very worried about what is on his resume.
 

bstone

Forum Deputy Chief
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OK, first things first the Elliot is NOT a level 1 trauma center, they are a regional trauma center. There is only one level 1 center in NH and that would be DHMC in Lebanon. I have nothing against NEEMSI, Out of their instructors, 7 total 6 have degree's not one of them has a degree in education, and out of the 6 one has a master's degree. I will give them credit for having instructor's that have college degree's. But to the OP, I would give the best advice as saying go to a program that gives you a college degree, since he seems very worried about what is on his resume.

Guess I was wrong. Elliot says they are a "Regional Trauma Center", but doesn't state what level. Sorry.

As far as degrees, NEEMSI can do that. Like I said they are licensed as a post-secondary institution with articulation agreement with other institutions.

Do you know of a better institute in NH?
 

got_shoes

Forum Crew Member
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The NH technical college in Concord. I feel that is a way better school, they have awesome clincal agreements all over the northeast. As far as NEEMSI they have an agreement for college credit, they do not provide a college degree upon the testing out of the medic program.
 
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