California Corrections Officer of 5 years...MAking the leap!

meastt

meastt

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Well gents and ladies.....

I spent over 5 years being a good little Corrections Officer for the state of California....Well.....Its time to go....I have a strong desive to be able to help people.....So I put In my two weeks notice and have enrolled into a EMT-B course in Sacramento. I hope I can find the "help" factor im looking for......Im tired of going to bed and feeling like i did nothin with my job.......Plaese guys, tell me im crazy and it wont happen or tell m e that it was a great move

I have 8 years US Army MP ....combat action

5 years Corrections Officer MAX prison.....


And now the journey to EMT-P
 
I would of waited to hand in the notice, if you dont know already you will probably be taking a significant pay cut working as an EMT-B. You probably wont be making as much as you are now until you become a Paramedic which for most schools takes atleast a year.
 
hopefully you thought this through, and didn't jump the gun.

if you did think it through, congrats on starting a new journey, enjoy!
 
Considering the discipline and training you have gone through in the military and as a CO, you are going to be in for a big surprise and not one of the good kind.

Start applying to the FDs as soon as you get your EMT-B. Many will prefer you already have the Paramedic cert but it doesn't hurt to try.

California EMS is not very progressive and you will be very limited as a Paramedic.

Good luck but you should have waited until you finished the EMT-B before resigning.
 
Around these parts, corrections makes more then a emt-b. I would have tried to see if I could have balanced work with school, especially if the classes are only a few times a week/at night. Especially for after school when you are searching for a job, depending if you are going private/fire. I wish you the best of luck! A word of advice, did you ever do combat lifesaver in the army? We had a few of them in our course and what they learned/applied in the field was constantly tripping them up in the actual course. Different rules and applications on the civi medicine side. So try to leave your prior knowledge and stuff to the side so it doesn't get in the way for you. Good luck again! :) It's great to realize you have a deeper drive to help people and then do it.
 
Thaks for all the responses...


Well, I have planned pretty well for this....I have a good savings, I have awesome educational benefits from the military that pretty much pay me to go to school monthly as well as paying back to me the tuition cost of the school.

I figure between the monthly GI bill payments and a part-time job, I will be fine.

I looked into taking this course while I was still employed.... Its not going to happen....California Prisons are overcroweded and understaffed. Forced overtime is very common and throws a wrench in every plan around here.

I have seen the good pay with being a CO......I know what Im leaving and Im OK with that. I dont know what im getting into however, although from what I can gather.....low pay as an EMT-B (but with very flexible shifts).
 
meastt said:
Thaks for all the responses...


Well, I have planned pretty well for this....I have a good savings, I have awesome educational benefits from the military that pretty much pay me to go to school monthly as well as paying back to me the tuition cost of the school.

I figure between the monthly GI bill payments and a part-time job, I will be fine.

I looked into taking this course while I was still employed.... Its not going to happen....California Prisons are overcroweded and understaffed. Forced overtime is very common and throws a wrench in every plan around here.

I have seen the good pay with being a CO......I know what Im leaving and Im OK with that. I dont know what im getting into however, although from what I can gather.....low pay as an EMT-B (but with very flexible shifts).
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Employment opportunities in California are limited for EMTs. You will be lucky to get a job on a transfer (non-911) ambulance, and very lucky to find a position on a private 911 ambulance as an EMT. If you cannot find a job in your area, I think that Hall Ambulance in Bakersfield and Kern County hires pretty often, and they are the primary 911 provider for that county.

I do wish you luck, I think you are someone who will do well in this field. Like the others, I wish you could have stayed at your job while in EMT class. Also, go to Paramedic school as soon as possible. Do not wait and do not let others around you tell you to wait. They will. They are wrong.
 
You left a job with a pension. You can use a medic cert (get your medic ASAP) to gain employment at a good third service EMS agency, or a more lucrative gig as a firemedic if you think that you'd like it. These jobs provide pensions. You can also get a degree in the healthcare field, say as an RT or RN, and do EMS on the side. You'll likely retire poor otherwise.

It's all about the best retirement. you don't want to be out of funds at 70 y/o.
 
meastt said:
Thaks for all the responses...


Well, I have planned pretty well for this....I have a good savings, I have awesome educational benefits from the military that pretty much pay me to go to school monthly as well as paying back to me the tuition cost of the school.

I figure between the monthly GI bill payments and a part-time job, I will be fine.

I looked into taking this course while I was still employed.... Its not going to happen....California Prisons are overcroweded and understaffed. Forced overtime is very common and throws a wrench in every plan around here.

I have seen the good pay with being a CO......I know what Im leaving and Im OK with that. I dont know what im getting into however, although from what I can gather.....low pay as an EMT-B (but with very flexible shifts).
Click to expand...

I know sevral people that work for he CDC. They are the most unhappy, cynical people I know. As you say, California's Prision System is a joke. I tried working at a privately operated Juvenille Facility for a summer as the onsite EMT, and couldn't handle working in that type of system where criminals are being housed at my expense while they get every benifit libralism allows, which in turn allows them to focus on continuing to be criminals... and that was just with kids! I could not see working for the CDC; and I believe the only reason that people do is the money (however CA's economy and with furloughs... phfff). Several of the posts here focus on the almighty buck and retirement, but I contest that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. You obviously hate what you do; and I can't blame you for that. But, no amount of money can compensate for being unhappy. Retiring a bitter old man at the age of 57 with psycological issues with plenty on money is not a way anyone wants to end up. Although those circumstances are also found in EMS and Fire, it is exagurated in Corrections Officers, IMHO.

However, as many here have stated, you are probably in for a reality jolt. EMS in general isn't what it should be, and REALLY is a joke in CA. Logically, it might have made sense to wait before resigning, but one fact makes me agree with your desision: CA has a HUGE suicide rate among Corrections Officers. The working conditions are obviously a reason for that, so if you are unhappy, want out, and can get out (sounds like you have thought it out somewhat)... then go for it. Good Luck...
 
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I did leave a job with a pension.....sure did.

Everywhere I look at the prison guys are doing a job that they hate but they stay because it has a good retirement....WEll, most guys dont get to enjoy that retirement because they are all tore up after 30 years in a prison....between alcoholism, divorce, suicide and just poor health overall, nobody is getting to enjoy that wonderful pension.....
 
meastt said:
I did leave a job with a pension.....sure did.

Everywhere I look at the prison guys are doing a job that they hate but they stay because it has a good retirement....WEll, most guys dont get to enjoy that retirement because they are all tore up after 30 years in a prison....between alcoholism, divorce, suicide and just poor health overall, nobody is getting to enjoy that wonderful pension.....
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Guess you really haven't been around many EMS providers.

Even reading some of the EMS forums you will see many complaints especially when it comes to some finding out there are patients involved which seems to be a missed point in their training.

You could also have gotten out of the state system and gone into county. I have several friends in SF SO and they have very few complaints. The money they make even tops that of the RNs for the Bay area and that is impressive. Their hours are also a little more flexible than what you will find as an EMT-B.
 
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Fire EMS here is really competitive right now...well, has been for a while.

I may be wrong, but I think at least Sac Metro is requiring folks to pass firefighter academy first. Maybe you can pick up a little extra money if you get your AHA or ARC CPR instructor card and do some of that on the side through one or more of the local private training companies, you might also make some contacts that way.
I've seen some transport vans and stuff driving around without AMR in big letters as well, transport service is good although it doesn't pay as much.
 
hmmmm, you have a career, with a pension, with a position for advancement, with a very stable income..... and you are leaving for an EMT position? are you nuts?

don't get me wrong, I know quite a few corrections officers who are EMTs (in fact, my former partner left EMS full time for a spot with corrections). however If I were you, I would stay as corrections officer, and get your EMT. once you have your EMT cert, you can work per diem as an EMT, gaining the experience and helping people, while maintaining the steady income, pension, and having enough money to provide for your family.

good luck and I hope you are happy with whatever you decide.
 
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