EMT-I Training?

[mct601]

Here in Mississippi, EMT-I is no longer recognized as a level of EMT, so of course nowhere trains EMT-Is in state. Louisiana, just a few miles west of me, still employs Intermediates but I cannot find a place that trains EMT-Is that is convenient to go to on a regular basis (Delgado CC offers it I believe, but its in New Orleans and those people just cannot drive).
Basically my question is, a fellow student who happens to be a know-it-all claims that there is an online class that you can take for EMT-I, and you have to travel to Texas or somewhere for the practicals and hands on stuff for a few days. Any truth behind it? I am currently in Basic training, and would like to take the Intermediate training after about 6months on the job. I do not need the EMT-B+I training.
I wouldn't mind getting the extra training and this would conform with my schedule better + I like to travel occasionally. Thanks in advance

 

[atropine]

Dude just go medic and be done with it.

 

[daedalus]

Dude just go medic and be done with it.

I usually do not agree with atropine, but he speaks the truth. Don't waste your time in EMT-I school when you could be well on your way to paramedic school.

 

[atropine]

I usually do not agree with atropine, but he speaks the truth. Don't waste your time in EMT-I school when you could be well on your way to paramedic school.

I'll even play nice back get an AAS degree in paramedicne, I have one in fire protection and am working on a BA in public admin, but I still think it is over rated for $12.00 an hour.

 

[frdude1000]

http://www.trainingdivision.com/

 

[mct601]

Dude just go medic and be done with it.

I usually do not agree with atropine, but he speaks the truth. Don't waste your time in EMT-I school when you could be well on your way to paramedic school.

I'm still iffy on medic school, I guess I'll make up my mind 6-12 months after working as a basic. EMT-I is just an idea of mine, so decision made as of yet. It doesn't help that my state doesn't recognize EMT-I and I'll most likely be going to school 60 miles inward away from Louisiana, who recognizes the EMT-I level. so actually you guys are right haha. I was also curious of the idea of such an online class... I thought he was bull:censored::censored::censored::censored:ting.

I'll even play nice back get an AAS degree in paramedicne, I have one in fire protection and am working on a BA in public admin, but I still think it is over rated for $12.00 an hour.

After next semester I'll be able to get that degree if/when I complete the paramedic curriculum. Unlike EMT-B, some of the paramedic school courses count as college credits, correct? I know they may or may not transfer to other schools, universities, etc.

http://www.trainingdivision.com/

Thanks, thats exactly the one he was referring to

 

[daedalus]

I'm still iffy on medic school, I guess I'll make up my mind 6-12 months after working as a basic. EMT-I is just an idea of mine, so decision made as of yet. It doesn't help that my state doesn't recognize EMT-I and I'll most likely be going to school 60 miles inward away from Louisiana, who recognizes the EMT-I level. so actually you guys are right haha. I was also curious of the idea of such an online class... I thought he was bull:censored::censored::censored::censored:ting.



After next semester I'll be able to get that degree if/when I complete the paramedic curriculum. Unlike EMT-B, some of the paramedic school courses count as college credits, correct? I know they may or may not transfer to other schools, universities, etc.



Thanks, thats exactly the one he was referring to

Seriously, do not fall into the trap of waiting years to go to paramedic school all in the name of "not being ready for it". It is not rocket science, but by that token, nothing you learn in the field will prepare you for the sciences taught in decent paramedic schools like pharmacology and pathophysiology. You could be an EMT in the field for 10 years but when it comes to the coagulation cascade and body response to injury, you are no more advantaged than the kid straight out of EMT school. In fact, some people cannot separate academic paramedicine and field paramedicine because they have been EMTs for so long and get frustrated easily in class because they know that certain things we learn are not used in the field so they try and ignore them, only to fail tests and eventually fail out of school.

You are good enough to go to paramedic school. Do not sell yourself short and do not put it off if you can go now. EMT-I is just another unneeded step you are going to add to the process, and it may be a dangerous investment because there is serious talk of getting rid of the EMT-I level and make -99s transistion to paramedic or lose their certification.

 

[mct601]

Oh no, I'm simply talking about waiting a semester, MAYBE two when I get certified for basic which if all goes well, will be the first week of January. I'm waiting to double check to see if I want to invest any more schooling into this field (make sure it's really what I want to do) and also get my A&Ps done so I can leave paramedic school with a degree. It's the only class I'm lacking.

 

[Akulahawk]

Sounds like you've got yourself a plan going. I would, like others here, recommend that you go for the Paramedic. IMHO, if you get a few months of good work learning to be an EMT and you take the A&P and a pharmacology (pathophys too, if offered) you'll know if you're a good fit for EMS. It's a VERY different world that we live in. By completing those courses, you'll also get most prerequisites you'd need to enter another field of medicine. Most "Allied Health" professions require those and some pre-reqs for those courses.

If you end up going Paramedic, you'll be FAR ahead of the game and the education you'll have received will push you away from being a cookbook medic.

 

[DV_EMT]

Oh no, I'm simply talking about waiting a semester, MAYBE two when I get certified for basic which if all goes well, will be the first week of January. I'm waiting to double check to see if I want to invest any more schooling into this field (make sure it's really what I want to do) and also get my A&Ps done so I can leave paramedic school with a degree. It's the only class I'm lacking.

those 1-2 semesters can turn into longer. its been a year for me and I'm still trying to get a job as an EMT to get the hours for medic school.:glare:

Start now. get a jump on it!

 

[eveningsky339]

Here in Mississippi, EMT-I is no longer recognized as a level of EMT, so of course nowhere trains EMT-Is in state. Louisiana, just a few miles west of me, still employs Intermediates but I cannot find a place that trains EMT-Is that is convenient to go to on a regular basis (Delgado CC offers it I believe, but its in New Orleans and those people just cannot drive).
Basically my question is, a fellow student who happens to be a know-it-all claims that there is an online class that you can take for EMT-I, and you have to travel to Texas or somewhere for the practicals and hands on stuff for a few days. Any truth behind it? I am currently in Basic training, and would like to take the Intermediate training after about 6months on the job. I do not need the EMT-B+I training.
I wouldn't mind getting the extra training and this would conform with my schedule better + I like to travel occasionally. Thanks in advance

I'm not an education nazi, but since you are in a state that no longer recognizes EMT-I's, you should go for paramedic.

Here in Maine, it works much differently. First you need to be qualified as a Basic (single semester long course, five college credits). Then, if you want to become a paramedic... too bad, you need to be qualified as an Intermediate, which is a semester-long course plus clinicals. And then, of course, you have your two-semester medic course, with the option of going for an Associates as well. That's the beauty of taking the EMT at college vs. a training school.

As an aside, it's very odd how states are different... I hear people saying that EMT-I's are on their way out, and this is evident by some states no longer recognizing it. However, some states do not hire basics; they only want intermediates. Georgia is a good example of this.

Come to think of it, most southern states aren't happy with "just Basics". Hospitals in TN don't want you unless you are a Basic with an IV cert.

Then, of course, you have Pennsylvania now recognizing an "in-between" level of EMT, which is basically Intermediate.

I have found that in rural areas, such as mine, Intermediates are desirable because of their flexibility. An Intermediate can offer a higher level of care than a Basic on a medic/basic truck or one of our flycars. We don't run basic/basic trucks for ALS calls, but sometimes we staff a truck with intermediate/basic for such calls and have a flycar on standby.

Anyway, I should probably shut my mouth, but find work as a Basic, see what the medics do and have a taste of ALS, and find a good medic school.

 

[mct601]

I'm not an education nazi, but since you are in a state that no longer recognizes EMT-I's, you should go for paramedic.

Here in Maine, it works much differently. First you need to be qualified as a Basic (single semester long course, five college credits). Then, if you want to become a paramedic... too bad, you need to be qualified as an Intermediate, which is a semester-long course plus clinicals. And then, of course, you have your two-semester medic course, with the option of going for an Associates as well. That's the beauty of taking the EMT at college vs. a training school.

As an aside, it's very odd how states are different... I hear people saying that EMT-I's are on their way out, and this is evident by some states no longer recognizing it. However, some states do not hire basics; they only want intermediates. Georgia is a good example of this.

Come to think of it, most southern states aren't happy with "just Basics". Hospitals in TN don't want you unless you are a Basic with an IV cert.

Then, of course, you have Pennsylvania now recognizing an "in-between" level of EMT, which is basically Intermediate.

I have found that in rural areas, such as mine, Intermediates are desirable because of their flexibility. An Intermediate can offer a higher level of care than a Basic on a medic/basic truck or one of our flycars. We don't run basic/basic trucks for ALS calls, but sometimes we staff a truck with intermediate/basic for such calls and have a flycar on standby.

Anyway, I should probably shut my mouth, but find work as a Basic, see what the medics do and have a taste of ALS, and find a good medic school.

Well the thing was, I can walk out my front door and cough too hard and some of it will land in Louisiana. I live very close to the state line.

I believe thats what I'm going to do as I originally planned- work as a basic while still taking some college classes and after a semester or two, decide whether or not if I want to take the next step.

And as far as southern states not happy with just basics- it not just states, its individual areas of the states. AAA Ambulance of my area utilizes basics, as well as Acadian Ambulance, ASAP, EMServe, and AMR (if I remember correctly). However, a guy from EBR EMS (East Baton Rouge) from in Louisiana said they refuse to run basics. Its all or nothing, which IMO is dumb, but then again I have no experience. It is crazy how different each state or agency can vary on their requirements.

As far as hospitals, I looked into becoming an ER Tech. When I did my ER rotation, I asked a few techs what training they had (because this forum made it sound like ER Tech was a dream job for a basic, which I'm sure it is in some areas). They almost laughed at me for asking if they had the Basic+IV cert. One girl went through some nursing school but didn't finish, and I didn't get the story of the other tech. They both said the hospital took them under their wing and put them through a set of classes which DID NOT include IV's. What I saw them doing most of the day was catheters, bed pans, and EKGs.

 

[wyoskibum]

There is no point in getting EMT-I if the state you live in does not recognize it. You will not be able to work at that level. If you are eager to gain additional medical information, take some college level classes on Anatomy & Physiology, medical terminology, etc...

Then you will be way ahead when it comes time for Paramedic school.