EMS as a stepping stone

[ThatPrivate]

I don't know if there is a post like this already but I wanted to know how many people use EMS as a stepping stone (RN, PA, firefighter, etc.). I wanted to what are some other common ones? Also, for those of you who are using EMS as a stepping stone do you plan on confronting working in EMS ( post time or volunteer). I'm an EMT-basic and currently in paramedic school. I was thinking about becoming an athletic trainer and possible volunteering as a paramedic. It was just a thought. I wanted to know how common this is within EMS.

 

[JPINFV]

Shrug. I'm in medical school now and planning on working as a medical director when I get done. So... ummm... sure.

 

[DesertMedic66]

Shrug. I'm in medical school now and planning on working as a medical director when I get done. So... ummm... sure.

Please come to riverside county!!! Haha

 

[Wheel]

I don't know if there is a post like this already but I wanted to know how many people use EMS as a stepping stone (RN, PA, firefighter, etc.). I wanted to what are some other common ones? Also, for those of you who are using EMS as a stepping stone do you plan on confronting working in EMS ( post time or volunteer). I'm an EMT-basic and currently in paramedic school. I was thinking about becoming an athletic trainer and possible volunteering as a paramedic. It was just a thought. I wanted to know how common this is within EMS.

It is all too common. EMS is largely a transient field. More motivated people often (not always) move away from ems for more money/advancement opportunity.

 

[NYMedic828]

EMS in most places of the US really offers no incentive for the ambitious to stick around.

Mind you there are great companies out there but they are massively outweighed by bad ones.

 

[MidwestEMT]

Partially a stepping stone, but also part permanent for myself. Original plan back in high school was to be a paramedic. Didn't realize or know any of the politics or facts about it. Learned that there isn't as much opportunity for a paramedicine career outside of fire, so I started looking into that. EMS and fire now interest me equally. I work as a basic in private transport currently, and about 70% through the process for being a volunteer FF/EMT with a local dept.

My ultimate goal is to work in a larger city career FD, get plenty of years in as a FF, and eventually end up 'settling down' riding full time medic with the same type of bigger city fire department.

 

[Veneficus]

My ultimate goal is to work in a larger city career FD, get plenty of years in as a FF, and eventually end up 'settling down' riding full time medic with the same type of bigger city fire department.

Just pointing out, you have that backwards. It is far more common to start out on a busy medic unit and then "slow-down" by getting transerred to an engine.

To the OP: EMS is a transient field. When I got in it it was part of fire and I thought I would do them both forever.

Unfortunately, the politics are very disconcerting. Less so in larger departments, but smaller ones are just beehives.

Advancement (even in larger departments) is seniority based, so depending on what generation you get hired into you may only see a promotion once or twice or all the way to chief in a few years.

EMS is not a field for the ambitious, it sounds like you have a reasonable plan.

 

[Wheel]

Just pointing out, you have that backwards. It is far more common to start out on a busy medic unit and then "slow-down" by getting transerred to an engine.

To the OP: EMS is a transient field. When I got in it it was part of fire and I thought I would do them both forever.

Unfortunately, the politics are very disconcerting. Less so in larger departments, but smaller ones are just beehives.

Advancement (even in larger departments) is seniority based, so depending on what generation you get hired into you may only see a promotion once or twice or all the way to chief in a few years.

EMS is not a field for the ambitious, it sounds like you have a reasonable plan.

What if you are ambitious and love ems, theoretically? I mean someone has to teach, supervise, etc. I'd much rather it be someone with drive to see the profession better itself than someone who is satisfied with themselves and satisfied with the way things are now. Hopefully we can make some room for people who want to do that. I'm tossing the idea around myself.

 

[NYMedic828]

What if you are ambitious and love ems, theoretically? I mean someone has to teach, supervise, etc. I'd much rather it be someone with drive to see the profession better itself than someone who is satisfied with themselves and satisfied with the way things are now. Hopefully we can make some room for people who want to do that. I'm tossing the idea around myself.

The reality is that the only ones who can truly better the profession are the people at the top. If you want to make EMS better, go to med school.

Plenty of people enjoy EMS, especially on this forum be it as a career or "hobby." But realistically if you have the opportunity to work in a higher field of healthcare and do EMS on the side that is the way to go. Money doesn't buy happiness, but neither does being broke and working 3 jobs.

Just pointing out, you have that backwards. It is far more common to start out on a busy medic unit and then "slow-down" by getting transerred to an engine.

+1 that is backwards.

 

[Wheel]

The reality is that the only ones who can truly better the profession are the people at the top. If you want to make EMS better, go to med school.

Plenty of people enjoy EMS, especially on this forum be it as a career or "hobby." But realistically if you have the opportunity to work in a higher field of healthcare and do EMS on the side that is the way to go. Money doesn't buy happiness, but neither does being broke and working 3 jobs.



+1 that is backwards.

While physicians play a big role, we still have to push ourselves or else physicians won't take the time of day to stand up for us. Why would they, if we're ok with being minimally educated providers, trained (often in-house) by equally uneducated providers? That is unacceptable for every similar profession. As far as I know the vast majority of nursing and RT professors are at least degreed to the bachelor level, often much more. It's like the blind leading the blind, having a diploma paramedic teaching new medics about blood chemistry and how it relates to what we do every day.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

I was thinking about becoming an athletic trainer and possible volunteering as a paramedic.

Really cool guys(Athletic Trainers) I use to work with one when I was a Roller Derby medic. Before we got him I felt really under qualified to help the girls unless they needed emergency care. Once we got an Athletic Trainer to partner me with it was great and I learned a lot from him.

AT is a 6 year masters degree in most states I believe. Many sporting events require Paramedics and an Athletic training, so if you had both certs I could see that being a huge plus.

PS: Just be aware AT is still a very new allied health pseudo mid level provider. Even newer than EMS

 

[Veneficus]

PS: Just be aware AT is still a very new allied health pseudo mid level provider. Even newer than EMS

...and you may have to compete for really good jobs with a sports medicine subspecialized orthopod.

 

[MidwestEMT]

Just pointing out, you have that backwards. It is far more common to start out on a busy medic unit and then "slow-down" by getting transerred to an engine.

yes, sorry. That's what I was trying to say, I guess it was just too late for me. Busy medic unit, then slow down as a possible driver/engineer. But i'm only 18, so the options will more than likely change during my next 40-50 years.

 

[patzyboi]

Someone explain these "politics" for a guy with no EMS work experience please

 

[Wheel]

Someone explain these "politics" for a guy with no EMS work experience please

In many agencies, promotions are based on seniority and how little you rock the boat, rather than drive, education, etc.

 

[DrParasite]

I plan on being on an ambulance for as long as my body and mind can handle it.

that being said, I have no desire to work full time in EMS anymore, and am in the process of transitioning to a non-EMS career.

In many agencies, promotions are based on seniority and how little you rock the boat, rather than drive, education, etc.

which is exactly why I have no desire to work in EMS or make this my career. seen this happen too many times.

 

[sir.shocksalot]

In many agencies, promotions are based on seniority and how little you rock the boat, rather than drive, education, etc.

I second DrParasite. Every time I hear someone is awesome because of how long they have been doing this or because of where they work it makes me not want to stay in EMS a little bit more. The longer I stay in EMS and the more I learn about medicine the less I think this job has anything to do with medicine. There is little incentive to provide progressive care or further educate yourself other than for your own benefit, you won't get any more respect, money, or promotions from doing it.
Like DrParasite, I too am trying to break into another field full-time where there might be some opportunity for career growth. I like EMS and would like to stay in a part time of volunteer capacity, but I can't see a future in it. If I stay in EMS, 10 years from now I might be a supervisor or a flight medic, provided I don't get written up for what my partner writes in his PCR or for allowing a patient to walk 5 feet to the stretcher. I'm not a fan of spending 10 years to get seemingly no where.

 

[Wheel]

I second DrParasite. Every time I hear someone is awesome because of how long they have been doing this or because of where they work it makes me not want to stay in EMS a little bit more. The longer I stay in EMS and the more I learn about medicine the less I think this job has anything to do with medicine. There is little incentive to provide progressive care or further educate yourself other than for your own benefit, you won't get any more respect, money, or promotions from doing it.
Like DrParasite, I too am trying to break into another field full-time where there might be some opportunity for career growth. I like EMS and would like to stay in a part time of volunteer capacity, but I can't see a future in it. If I stay in EMS, 10 years from now I might be a supervisor or a flight medic, provided I don't get written up for what my partner writes in his PCR or for allowing a patient to walk 5 feet to the stretcher. I'm not a fan of spending 10 years to get seemingly no where.

I get this feeling too. I really would like to see ems grow, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it through all of the crap to get there.

 

[ThatPrivate]

in my basic class of the 10 that passed we had 1 person that wanted to become a nurse, 2 future PA assistants , 1 doctor and one doing it for his fire department. that leaves 5 people ( including me). I've been going back and forward about continuing my education and trying to break the stereotypes is EMS. I've also considered PA school ( on the army's dime) it an associates degree in nursing. athletic training has always been a dream of mine however the field is so new that the pay and growth is similar to EMS.

 

[Veneficus]

in my basic class of the 10 that passed we had 1 person that wanted to become a nurse, 2 future PA assistants , 1 doctor and one doing it for his fire department. that leaves 5 people ( including me). I've been going back and forward about continuing my education and trying to break the stereotypes is EMS. I've also considered PA school ( on the army's dime) it an associates degree in nursing. athletic training has always been a dream of mine however the field is so new that the pay and growth is similar to EMS.

Have you considered an advanced degree in physical/occupational therapy with athletic training as a focus or side job of that?