EMT-B Students!!!

Last official day of class today. NREMT practicles monday, then the written and I'm done :P.
 
I'm on the other end. ;) January 4th. But congrats on getting through yours!
 
Phew, class is over! Practical tests were Monday, and written final tonight. One more clinical round and I'm ready to schedule the NR test.
 
Soon to Start EMT-B Class

I am to start EMT-B class on January 11th and couldn't be more excited. I have already ordered the book and have been reading and studying in order to get a bit of a head start.

We had orientation last night, and I have to admit I was a bit dismayed by the attitude of some of the prospective students. There were a lot of smarta** comments in regards to some of the class requirements, such as the dress code, grade expectations, and..wait for it..BEING ON TIME FOR CLASS. I am taking this class, profession, and career change very seriously and hope whomever I have to work with in the skills lab does as well.

Sorry for the rant...

That said, I can't wait to being classes!
 
Piper-

I just finished a B class. There was plenty of folks like that in my class at the start.

Not suprisingly, they were largely the same ones who flunked out. Go figure...
 
totally agree

Piper76 said:
I am to start EMT-B class on January 11th and couldn't be more excited. I have already ordered the book and have been reading and studying in order to get a bit of a head start.

We had orientation last night, and I have to admit I was a bit dismayed by the attitude of some of the prospective students. There were a lot of smarta** comments in regards to some of the class requirements, such as the dress code, grade expectations, and..wait for it..BEING ON TIME FOR CLASS. I am taking this class, profession, and career change very seriously and hope whomever I have to work with in the skills lab does as well.

Sorry for the rant...

That said, I can't wait to being classes!
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I second everything you said! I am starting EMT-B classes on January 6 and can't wait to get started! I am also looking for a career change. What do you do now?
 
=)

HI!
My name is Zak. I'm 18 years old and I'm a resident firefighter.
I used to ride with a private ambulance company at the age of 16 before moving to the fire station. So although I've had some previous experience, I still have to take the class... LOL
I wish I could challenge it!!

But I'm enjoying it.
I'll be taking the National Certification at the end of January 2010.

I've been doing my ride alongs... Had a couple good calls!!!
And lovin' it!!!!!!!!!!! =)

Good luck to everybody in class and going into class.
It's lots of fun.
 
Thank you for your response, sorry for replying so late!

Yes, that would be too much. Have you done any shadowing? You sound like you're not quite sure if you want to do PA or MD/DO - you have some pros and cons for both. You should figure it out rather than sorta purse both of them.
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I agree, it would most likely just be a waste of time and money. No I haven't done any shadowing yet, I will in January once I get back into a University.


I did something similar and I look at it as life experience. I am sooo much more motivated than the other people my age who have just been in college without experiencing the real world, and it sounds like you are too.



History is a horrible degree to go into that much debt for, but a medical degree isn't. Why do you think you wouldn't be able to complete medical school?
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Well..while the mental motivation is there, I haven't developed my work ethic enough so it's really difficult to assess whether or not I'll be able to survive Med school, heh and too be honest I'm not entirely sure if I'm going to be able to make such a commitment, I want too, but want isn't nearly enough in this case.


That is a good plus for PA, but I'm not sure "how I've been financially dependent" equals "I have to make a lot of money right away." You can be financially independent on a residency salary.
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That is true.

Going to medical school at 26 isn't exactly old, especially because you'll have 5 years to make up for the first 21 -- and being an EMT and joining the Peace Corps is a great way to do that.
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You're absolutely right, it's been a bit disheartening, but I'm starting to *truly* recognize more and more, it doesn't matter how fast you get to the finish line, as long ya get there, that's what counts the most, lol.


Don't just talk to a counselor! Do some shadowing!
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Definitely, I'm going to see if I can get a job as an E.R. tech so I can really get a feel of the hospital environment as well.
 
apumic said:
Chrissy, might I suggest that if you're going to go for med school (or PA school) you just go for it? As a previous poster stated, 26 isn't too old to enter med school, although it might make more sense to go for PA if you don't want to be getting done with residency in your mid-30s. One suggestion I would have for you is to let the EMS degree idea go (from what I have heard from some med school admissions officials, med schools often see vocational degrees as less rigorous, which may negatively influence admissions decisions; not sure about PA schools, though). Finish the bio degree and apply your EMS experience as clinical experience for med school.
From reading through your post, PA school sounds like a good idea. The prereqs are a little more intense b/c PA school is so short but it would cut out 1-2 years of med school and a 3-5 year residency (plus possible fellowship time). If you don't mind working under a physician, PA is an excellent career choice and they can still make a great salary (average is around $80k w/ some specialties over $100k) and the level of debt is minimal by comparison.
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Thank you for your response, and I think you're right, I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I am definitely leaning towards P.A., nothing is set in stone, but I think that P.A. is my best bet right now.
Yeah, I think the most I might do is see about doing extra training at the rescue squad I'm stationed at (if possible), but a degree might be a bit too much.
 
Tyler Bruns said:
During my ED time my first PT was a full arrest. Me and my friend (also a fellow classmate) did CPR for 30mins or so before the DR called it. It is an odd feeling looking back on it once all is said and done. It comes down to how you deal with it. Personally I was a little shaken up right after but within a hour or 2 I was over it. My friend still doesnt like to talk about it (Its been a few weeks now). Talking really helped me to, for a lack of better words, not care. Talk with a classmate, EMT, Medic, teacher, hell even your friends who dont wanna hear about it. Its fun grossing people out with this stuff :P . Good luck. I am still finish up class myself (3 weeks left). Feel free to PM me if you would like.
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Thanks :)
You're right, I have talked with some people about it makes it better. Just feel kinda useless I guess, heh. Had another patient die of cardiac arrest when I did my last rotation, I think it definitely could have been preventable if he had gotten to the hospital sooner since we were told he was experiencing frequent chest pains for about a week and a half. His wife and kid were sitting right near the room they were working on him in, it was kinda sad. Just sucks overall, but yeah I guess that's how some things go.

On another note, just had my last class. Feeling very nervous about NREMT exams---going to be on Weds. I really hope I pass, just feel like I'm going to freeze up and my mind will go blank. I know all the assessments, just nervousness gets the better of me sometimes.
 
Chrissy88 said:
Thanks :)
You're right, I have talked with some people about it makes it better. Just feel kinda useless I guess, heh. Had another patient die of cardiac arrest when I did my last rotation, I think it definitely could have been preventable if he had gotten to the hospital sooner since we were told he was experiencing frequent chest pains for about a week and a half. His wife and kid were sitting right near the room they were working on him in, it was kinda sad. Just sucks overall, but yeah I guess that's how some things go.

On another note, just had my last class. Feeling very nervous about NREMT exams---going to be on Weds. I really hope I pass, just feel like I'm going to freeze up and my mind will go blank. I know all the assessments, just nervousness gets the better of me sometimes.
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It gets easier over time. At least that's what I have heard. Personally the thing that bugged me about it is how little I actually cared. I defiantly felt bad for the PT's wife who was in the room but I don't feel bad that the PT died. I am fairly emotionally reserved but I figured I would be at least a little upset.
I have practicals monday. Im friends with two of the proctors and they already told me to be prepared so I'm a little worried about what they might set me up with :unsure:
 
Well, I'm an EMT-P student, but I am going to try and keep up with this forum. It's old, but of course new people starting in their basic class are welcome to post here anytime. :)

And the only difference b/w EMT-B and EMT-P training is how long the class is. Paramedic training isnt harder or easier that EMT-B. Yes, the intensity and material is higher, but either way, it's still all new and foreign material to each student. Study hard now and be prepared if you intend to continue!!
 
Piper76 said:
I am to start EMT-B class on January 11th and couldn't be more excited. I have already ordered the book and have been reading and studying in order to get a bit of a head start.

We had orientation last night, and I have to admit I was a bit dismayed by the attitude of some of the prospective students. There were a lot of smarta** comments in regards to some of the class requirements, such as the dress code, grade expectations, and..wait for it..BEING ON TIME FOR CLASS. I am taking this class, profession, and career change very seriously and hope whomever I have to work with in the skills lab does as well.

Sorry for the rant...

That said, I can't wait to being classes!
Click to expand...

That is nothing new. We had 30 pplz in my 1st emt-b class at the start and 11 when we finished. Most dumba**es won't pull through. Pay them no mind.
 
Just passed my Practicals and got my completion cert. It says EMT-I on it but i thought I was in a EMT-B class...I should probably look into that. Everyone in my classes cert says EMT-I, but we all thought we were in a EMT-B class.
 
Tyler Bruns said:
Just passed my Practicals and got my completion cert. It says EMT-I on it but i thought I was in a EMT-B class...I should probably look into that. Everyone in my classes cert says EMT-I, but we all thought we were in a EMT-B class.
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That's because you're in California, where they use EMT-I (One) and EMT-II (Two) instead of EMT-B and EMT-I.

Anyway, just finished up my practicals as well.
 
While waiting to turn in my EMT-B application I had an interesting conversation with the girl in line behind me. She said she wanted to be a fire EMT, here's the catch, she was afraid of heights, can't stand high temperatures (prone to heat stroke), and can't stand the sight of blood - she can't even watch an episode of House without feeling dizzy... Flabergasted, I asked her what the heck she was doing here. She said she "wanted to get over her fears." No Kidding.
 
Piper76 said:
I am to start EMT-B class on January 11th and couldn't be more excited. I have already ordered the book and have been reading and studying in order to get a bit of a head start.

Sorry for the rant...

That said, I can't wait to being classes!
Click to expand...

snizzle.snoozle said:
I second everything you said! I am starting EMT-B classes on January 6 and can't wait to get started! I am also looking for a career change. What do you do now?
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I start Jan. 11 also, what text books are you using?
 
Whew, I'm clad I'm not the only one excited about this... Is it bad that I sometimes get excited whenever an ambulance whizzes by me on the road? :P
 
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