the 100% directionless thread

CALEMT · Nov 12, 2019

DragonClaw said:
You don't think, 6, 9, 11 months is enough time?

Where did I say that? Experience is what you make of it. A piss poor attitude at work isn't going to gain you anything. Opposite of that you show up with a good attitude, ask questions, read a patients chart and next thing you know sometime down the road you'll see a med list with HCTZ, diazepam, and levothyroxine on it you'll know what those meds are and what they're prescribed for. However long the takes is up to you. I don't set what a company or agency determines a reasonable amount of experience is. I'm just saying a extra $1,000 in your current living/ financial situation is an absolute godsend.

DragonClaw · Nov 12, 2019

CALEMT said:
Where did I say that? Experience is what you make of it. A piss poor attitude at work isn't going to gain you anything. Opposite of that you show up with a good attitude, ask questions, read a patients chart and next thing you know sometime down the road you'll see a med list with HCTZ, diazepam, and levothyroxine on it you'll know what those meds are and what they're prescribed for. However long the takes is up to you. I don't set what a company or agency determines a reasonable amount of experience is. I'm just saying a extra $1,000 in your current living/ financial situation is an absolute godsend.

It's my goal to be able to do that, to lean it quickly and do a good job at IFT. I'm not going to do a crap job on something just because it's not , in my mind, as interesting or what I want.

But I am hesitant to see dollar signs and miss an opportunity for advancement or lateral movement within or outside the company. A different job might pay a little more to cover that difference. It's less than a dollar per hour difference.

I'm trying to set up a chessboard here and I just can't commit the queen to a certain square yet.

Seirende · Nov 12, 2019

Looking at getting a tourniquet for personal use. The CAT for $25 looks like a good deal.

CALEMT · Nov 12, 2019

DragonClaw said:
But I am hesitant to see dollar signs and miss an opportunity for advancement or lateral movement within or outside the company. A different job might pay a little more to cover that difference. It's less than a dollar per hour difference.

I'm not sure how Texas AMR ops are but full time employees can work part time outside of AMR I.e in a hospital, or part time/ per diem for another agency.

Seirende said:
Looking at getting a tourniquet for personal use. The CAT for $25 looks like a good deal.

Can't go wrong with a CAT.

DragonClaw · Nov 12, 2019

CALEMT said:
I'm not sure how Texas AMR ops are but full time employees can work part time outside of AMR I.e in a hospital, or part time/ per diem for another agency.

I don't think I have enough experience yet to get another job. I've applied dozens of places across the state, got like 4 interviews, got 1 offer.

CALEMT · Nov 12, 2019

DragonClaw said:
I don't think I have enough experience yet to get another job. I've applied dozens of places across the state, got like 4 interviews, got 1 offer.

I'm not quite sure you're grasping what I'm conveying. Take the sign on bonus with AMR. Work a year at AMR. Once that year is up, stay full time at AMR so you can fulfill the sign on bonus deal. Meanwhile apply for another agency/ company for part time. Next thing you know you have two jobs and additional income. Most companies that hire part time workers only work a handful of shifts a month.

Jim37F · Nov 12, 2019

DragonClaw said:
I don't think I have enough experience yet to get another job. I've applied dozens of places across the state, got like 4 interviews, got 1 offer.

Well in a few months you'll have some experience to put on your resume and you might see your interviews increase.
One other good thing about IFT is you can rub shoulders with the 911 guys and gals at the hospital. You can chit chat with them about their agency, who knows maybe they'll tell you "Call this person" and you'll get an inside track to a job there or whatever, or at least get an idea from those guys how much prior experience they want. Maybe the agency turns its nose up at anything less than a year... maybe the fact you can even put AMR on the resume means you have a foot in the door now

(Or maybe you'll see burned out crews in sloppy uniforms with old equipment constantly holding the wall on BLS frequent flyers and find out their pay is less than yours and decide the IFT life ain't so bad lol)

RocketMedic · Nov 12, 2019

Second to last shift at current job completed, Yey!

@DragonClaw, check out Community VFD in southwest Houston.

911 is worth it, but don’t stress it. AMR Houston does a lot of high acuity work and you’re not super likely to get into 911 in the Houston metro as an EMT unless you’re Fire, Creek or working an outlying agency. Working a lot at AMR and going to school is a legit plan.

Jim37F · Nov 12, 2019

Small Mazda hatchback vs big Marine HEMTT semi truck wrecker (tow truck for heavy tactical vehicles).... Marines win

DragonClaw · Nov 12, 2019

RocketMedic said:
Second to last shift at current job completed, Yey!

@DragonClaw, check out Community VFD in southwest Houston.

911 is worth it, but don’t stress it. AMR Houston does a lot of high acuity work and you’re not super likely to get into 911 in the Houston metro as an EMT unless you’re Fire, Creek or working an outlying agency. Working a lot at AMR and going to school is a legit plan.

You mean, get my medic then go 911?

VentMonkey · Nov 13, 2019

I mean, I’m all for helping people but kid, you’ll be fine. I miss the days of figuring it out on your own. I say back to the directionlessness...

Tigger · Nov 13, 2019

Yup, you aren't going to be the first person moving out of their parent's house to go work at AMR for their first "real" job. Despite what the stickers say, nobody has died from private EMS yet. Enjoy figuring stuff out on your own, you might find you need those skills some day.

StCEMT · Nov 13, 2019

Take it for what it is....a job. IFT for AMR blows. Taking a bite out of the AMR **** sandwich is not fun, but it's a starting place to grow from and it will put food on your table.

RocketMedic · Nov 13, 2019

DragonClaw said:
You mean, get my medic then go 911?

Correct. That is pretty much The Way Forward in our neck of the woods if your goal is 911. But give it some time, see if you like the job, and go from there.

also, I guarantee you’ll do more life preservation and critical medical/trauma calls as an AMR IFT EMT here in Houston than a 911 EMT for anywhere.

GMCmedic · Nov 13, 2019

Final thoughts on the bonus. I did the math once, the AMR shop I worked at was busier than Vegas, per unit. The Ops manager was just an untrustworthy pain in the rear, but the shop made money so she kept her job.

In no way, shape, or form, would I ever tie myself to that place with a sign on bonus. I didnt even let them pay for medic school cause it required a 3 year commitment.

7 months after getting my medic I was out of there.

Ive heard its gotten better since I left, but they still have endless job openings and the surrounding counties do not, which tells me it hasnt really gotten better. They soured AMR in general for me. The experience I got was worth it though.

DragonClaw · Nov 13, 2019

GMCmedic said:
Final thoughts on the bonus. I did the math once, the AMR shop I worked at was busier than Vegas, per unit. The Ops manager was just an untrustworthy pain in the rear, but the shop made money so she kept her job.

In no way, shape, or form, would I ever tie myself to that place with a sign on bonus. I didnt even let them pay for medic school cause it required a 3 year commitment.

7 months after getting my medic I was out of there.

Ive heard its gotten better since I left, but they still have endless job openings and the surrounding counties do not, which tells me it hasnt really gotten better. They soured AMR in general for me. The experience I got was worth it though.

I don't know if this means I'm mature enough to know I'm Imature, or that I should handle things by myself Or what, But I will take me bonus have my responsible sister Hold on to it for me. She's good with her money. If I do end up getting a better offer elsewhere, I can just give back that money. If I end up Staying, It will be A one year anniversary bonus

Qulevrius · Nov 13, 2019

CALEMT said:
I'm contemplating making my own furniture for my house... any woodworkers on here?

Ask away.

RocketMedic · Nov 13, 2019

DragonClaw said:
I don't know if this means I'm mature enough to know I'm Imature, or that I should handle things by myself Or what, But I will take me bonus have my responsible sister Hold on to it for me. She's good with her money. If I do end up getting a better offer elsewhere, I can just give back that money. If I end up Staying, It will be A one year anniversary bonus

solid plan. A year as an EMT is a good self-check before you go for medic

CALEMT · Nov 13, 2019

When you give a firefighter a burn permit... goodbye weeds hahahahahaha.

GMCmedic · Nov 13, 2019

15.5 more hours till I leave for 4 days at deer camp. I expect a late flight and a pilot timeout are in my future. Maybe a chip light.

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