EMS work in Nevada?

Wayward2w1

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Family and I are moving to Nevada in the next couple months (hopefully). We've been planning on Las Vegas, but looking at the political climate there I'm starting to look for other spots as well, just in case we find anything else. I'm wondering what the job situation is there. I'd love some more info on Vegas, of course, but if anyone has information on the surrounding area I'd like that as well. I'm currently n Advanced EMT, or whatever you call it in your system. I'm planning on going to medic school as soon as I can after we move (thank you GI Bill!). I don't think I'd mind going the fire route, as long as it's also a transporting service. I can't do the "show up and hand off to the bus" kind of thing, it just doesn't work for me. I know Nellis is there, not sure what the EMS situation there is. Also, how does EMS work in the national parks all around Vegas? If you couldn't tell, I'm looking for any and all information that people are willing to give.

On the note of places to live other than Vegas, I have a kiddo. Good schools are a priority. Thanks for the help, peoples.
 

RocketMedic

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If you’re on the GI Bill, there’s a trick for maximum revenue. Live in CA or lower NY, near the Bay Area. Attend an expensive school like UC Berkley (it’s not your money) but live in somewhere like Sacramento or Merced or something. Work a local EMS service part time or full time and go to school full time, with at least one on campus course per semester. This unlocks full BAH, which is something like 5500 a month for that area. Tax-free buckets of cash. Overload every semester or do as much as you can (at least 12 per semester).

I did this in Houston and earned a master’s degree after a pair of bachelors and was able to pay my wife’s way through school full time with the GI bill at 1800 a month x 36 months. 5500 would have been Big Money for a lot of things. Any school in the Bay Area, to include community colleges with medic school as a degree plan, pays that high BAH. Don’t waste the GI bill on vocational tech schools. Incidentally, working 12s or 24s for somewhere like twice a week for a service like AMR Contra Costa or Falck or Riggs or Medic in Vallejo or wherever can very rapidly lead to a situation where you’re living comfortably and using your wages for play money and supplemental book money. EMS is a field where 24-48 hours a week is quite possible with a full time school schedule AND a decent life. Bonus points if spouse goes to school too.

As far as Nevada goes, Vegas is AMR and MedicWest transporting for the fire departments, who also aometimes transport.

Don’t worry about politics, it’s all crap anyways. And the US is basically the same everywhere.

Feel free to PM or ask me anything. Hope I can help.
 

RocketMedic

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Also, AEMT is a trap. Don’t count on it being a viable family supporter most places. GI bill is your friend. It’s recognized in Nevada but is pointless, a 911 call using it is a medic call in terms of who rides it and getting a few sticks in doesn’t pay your rent. My advice: finish the AEMT but don’t sit on it or look to use it, roll straight to medic school or full time undergrad working as an EMT, degrees and such, thrive.
 

RocketMedic

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Also also, 90 percent of the job is the exact same everywhere and your education is your ticket to do this voluntarily instead of by necessity. Don’t worry about the local politics, no one really cares and whether you’re a Trumpie or a Berner or a lolbertarian has no impact on much of anything unless you’re aggressive to others about it. Getting that green and fancy book learning trump all the local quirks 100% of the time.
 
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Wayward2w1

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See, I have the MGIB, not the post 9-11. With the kicker, I get roughly $2k a month straight cash for taking a full term, no bonuses for doing more. While that is actually more than I make in a month as an advanced, with FTO bonus, it doesn't get me health insurance. I'm not using the VA, and it doesn't cover my family anyway. My goal is a bachelors in EMS, with hope of a masters down the road. I'm trying to look into the different college programs in Nevada, but information seems limited. I've also looked at the advanced scope in NV, and compared to here it is pretty much useless. Medic is the goal.

Do you have any opinions on AMR vs MedicWest vs Community?
 
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Look into Rural Northern NV, just an FYI.
 

PotatoMedic

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I want to work got HGH EMS. They have a heavy rescue team. (But mostly I want to fly on their helicopter)
 
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I want to work got HGH EMS. They have a heavy rescue team. (But mostly I want to fly on their helicopter)

I had an opportunity to do a ride a long with HGH EMS recently. Enjoyed every minute of my time out there.
 
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RocketMedic

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How is Medicwest/AMR out there now? Did all that hoopla with LVFD settle down?

Also, how is REMSA?

@SandpitMedic
 

PotatoMedic

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How is Medicwest/AMR out there now? Did all that hoopla with LVFD settle down?

Also, how is REMSA?

@SandpitMedic
I hear REMSA will run you into the ground keeping you busy, but is otherwise a good system. But I also am not sure how reliable my source is.
 
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The friggity-frack is REMSA?

An ambulance service in Reno, NV.
 
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Wayward2w1

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Ah. does not help me at all. Vegas is kind of a requirement. Looks like my EMS choices for a 911 service are AMR, and AMR-with-a-different-name. I know AMR gets all kinds of flack, but does anyone have experience with AMR Vegas? Looking at the job search websites my only other option is getting a casino security job for six months to satisfy my VA loan before starting medic school, then going right back to working for AMR or AMR. I know Community Ambulance is there, but I'd prefer more 911 than IFT. Fire is an option, but I like transporting. So yes, I'm a bit picky.

So, does anyone have experience working EMS in Vegas, and if so is there anything you can tell me about the system, call volume, or anything in general? The system I work for now runs well over 100,000 calls a year, so being busy doesn't always bother me. I'm just looking for some info from people who have worked there.
 

RocketMedic

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Out of curiosity, would love to see the current pay rates, benefits, schedule, etc.
 
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Wayward2w1

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Henderson Fire transports and are a very EMS centric dept, they hire pretty frequently.
Thanks for the info, I couldn't tell if they transported or not when I first starting looking into jobs in the area. Sadly, they're not hiring at the moment. I'll keep my eye on them, though.
 
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