Recent content by Theo

I think the original poster's heart was in the right place with the comments, but as with most things there is a lot of grey area. I sat in medic class beside someone who never had any intention of working in the field. They did it to bridge to RN. The RN waitlist was long but the wasn't a...

George Washington University offers a Bachelors Degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Emergency Health Services. If you have all of the general education courses completed prior to entering the program, all of the upper level courses can be taken online. I believe they also give...

No problem. We didn't get much warning prior to taking the test, so there wasn't any preparing so to speak. Although the first two semesters of Paramedic class was almost 8 months of preparation. We thought that we were going to take the HESI right before registry, but ended up getting...

I took the HESI exam prior to taking National Registry. I thought the HESI exam was tougher than registry to be honest. It was a good test that hit all of the categories and then some. I would absolutely recommend it as a indicator of where you stand. I was certainly pleased when I got a passing...

Awesome thread and great discussion. This weekend, I had my first patient with ST-elevation from causes other than a MI. It was a great experience (for me) that was a perfect reminder of why we have to stay sharp and understand differential diagnosis. 60 y/o male, mild shortness of breath...

Where I work the cap is at 64 hours per week, but I've heard stories of some pulling well more than that. We're pretty busy, so if the need is there and shifts need filled, the opportunity certainly exists.

My family is relocating to NC next year. To get a jump start on reciprocation I set up residency with family in NC so I could open a bank account, get my DL, and start the process of getting certified to work as a medic in NC. It would have certainly been easier if employers accepted...

Some areas use medics in the ER, some don't. Check the job listings with your local hospitals to see what they offer. The area that I live in uses medics in the ER. Duties run the gambit from starting IV's to helping patient's go to the bathroom and everything in between. Taking blood...

Oh yeah, NC makes you jump through a few more hoops to get their license. My family is moving to NC in another year or so. I plan on setting up temporary residence at a family member's home in order to meet the requirements to get the NC reciprocity process started. That way, I'll have it in...

I used EMTB.com at length when I was taking my EMT-Basic. I wore the website out and it served as a excellent supplement. I only used JB Learning in the few weeks leading up to the NREMT. I liked that on JB Learning I could focus the questions on areas that I felt needed more work. However...

Everyone has their own path to walk, but I'd suggest taking care of your degree. I had the opportunity to finish school but decided to hold off finishing with my first child on the way. I planned on returning shortly thereafter, but life comes at you fast. Now, almost ten years later...

I have the Lippincott's, but I keep getting outbid on EBay for the Bate's. I'm going to have to break down and buy it elsewhere. A good refresher is Principals of Patient Assessment in EMS by Bob Elling.

I think this is a good exercise. Too bad we don't see more of these. 1. What happened? Robbery 2. What is this man’s GCS score? 15 3. Is he competent to refuse transport in your jurisdiction? Yes. Why or why not? Although he displays signs of intoxication, he is alert, aware of what...

I've played KED victim more than a few times and there is no way to make it comfortable for the patient. So, you might as well lock them up tight and pass your station. As mentioned before, see-saw the straps under the PT's legs and feed the lines through really well. If you have doubts about...

If we are truly headed towards using higher education to bring the profession in-line with other medical fields, then requiring a set time of on-the-job experience before allowing someone to move onto the next level will not work. Is time in the field beneficial? Most of the time... yes. Even...