EMT-Intermediate

Yes, clearer.

I guess my point is that there IS a "market" for mid level providers. I do understand that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and there are certainly I's and CC's that I personally know that scare the heck out of me. But there are also Paramedics that make me wonder as well.

Again, it goes back to the "in a perfect world scenario" and until the world is perfect we need top fumble along as best we can with what we have.
 
Nevada EMT-I's

In Nevada there are very few basics that are even hired except for security detail at the Strip casinos. If you want a job then you have to get your I. Right now in Las Vegas the local EMS company is short dozens of EMT's and are snatching up all the graduating EMT's they can...but if you stop at your B cert then you can't get a job. Not even for fire really. Locally our AMR service only had 5 basic positions available at the time our basic class graduated and as I mentioned they are short dozens of Intermediates. For me, its a stepping stone to my paramedic. I don't have a choice of just going to school for nearly 2 years and not have a job. As an Intermediate I can go to school for my Paramedic and my employer will pay for it.
 
Robby1974 said:
In Nevada there are very few basics that are even hired except for security detail at the Strip casinos. If you want a job then you have to get your I. Right now in Las Vegas the local EMS company is short dozens of EMT's and are snatching up all the graduating EMT's they can...but if you stop at your B cert then you can't get a job. Not even for fire really. Locally our AMR service only had 5 basic positions available at the time our basic class graduated and as I mentioned they are short dozens of Intermediates. For me, its a stepping stone to my paramedic. I don't have a choice of just going to school for nearly 2 years and not have a job. As an Intermediate I can go to school for my Paramedic and my employer will pay for it.
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Just curious, but why not go straight for your paramedic insted of getting your EMT-I?
 
liftwithlegs said:
Just curious, but why not go straight for your paramedic insted of getting your EMT-I?
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As I said. If I stopped at Basic I couldn't get a job in Las Vegas to work my way through Paramedic school. Yes, I could have gone from Basic to Paramedic but chances of getting a job as a Basic in Las Vegas is slim to none. Also, my paramedic program won't start for another 8 months or so so I want to get some field experience in. 90+% of rigs in Las Vegas are 1 Paramedic and 1 Intermediate on each rig. Anyway, I did consider just going from B to P but it didn't make sense for me personally. If your asking my feelings about Intermediates in genral for EMS...I have no idea and no opinion about it. I think that any education a person can get is only going to provide better medical care for our patients.
 
Robby1974 said:
As I said. If I stopped at Basic I couldn't get a job in Las Vegas to work my way through Paramedic school. Yes, I could have gone from Basic to Paramedic but chances of getting a job as a Basic in Las Vegas is slim to none. Also, my paramedic program won't start for another 8 months or so so I want to get some field experience in. 90+% of rigs in Las Vegas are 1 Paramedic and 1 Intermediate on each rig. Anyway, I did consider just going from B to P but it didn't make sense for me personally. If your asking my feelings about Intermediates in genral for EMS...I have no idea and no opinion about it. I think that any education a person can get is only going to provide better medical care for our patients.
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I see, makes sense! I also agree with you about the education part.
 
Nick, I have just finished EMT-I class... I absolutely enjoyed it. The medical directors out here like them due to the fact we are not far from being a Paramedic. We have Lead Intermediates and Lead Paramedics, most systems use basic-medic teams. The system I work in uses Medic-Intermediate teams, At the bare minimum EMT-Advanced with a medic. As far as people asking why just not go for your Paramedic, I have to ask why did they not just go for their RN???? Its a choice that some people just chose to make. i went Intermediate so i can get used to running in an ALS ambulance and get a heck of alot more experience starting IV's, pushing and administering meds, doing advanced ariways etc. With the exception of a few procedures and a handful of meds I think EMT-I is a great stepping stone for anyone who wants to be a ALS provider. ( yes i know call me bias )
All I have to say is do whatever makes you comfortable, If you want to go straight for paramedic... the more power to you. But, dont underestimate what other certifications can offer as far as learning experience.
 
medicp94dao said:
Nick, I have just finished EMT-I class... I absolutely enjoyed it. The medical directors out here like them due to the fact we are not far from being a Paramedic. We have Lead Intermediates and Lead Paramedics, most systems use basic-medic teams. The system I work in uses Medic-Intermediate teams, At the bare minimum EMT-Advanced with a medic. As far as people asking why just not go for your Paramedic, I have to ask why did they not just go for their RN???? Its a choice that some people just chose to make. i went Intermediate so i can get used to running in an ALS ambulance and get a heck of alot more experience starting IV's, pushing and administering meds, doing advanced ariways etc. With the exception of a few procedures and a handful of meds I think EMT-I is a great stepping stone for anyone who wants to be a ALS provider. ( yes i know call me bias )
All I have to say is do whatever makes you comfortable, If you want to go straight for paramedic... the more power to you. But, dont underestimate what other certifications can offer as far as learning experience.
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That is not even the same thing! We run basic/medic and I/medic trucks. Here, there is no difference. I's here can push no drugs. They can and do stat IV's. They can intubate, but don't with most medics. Most medics think the same way and will not allow it on the truck, when they work it. Here they incorporate EMT-I into medic. You have to take Intermediate, then Medic. But, the Medic class is shorter. They don't cover all that was already taught in I class.

I don't agree with this way, but this state is way behind the times in EMS and is slowly starting to catch up. A lot of it has to do with medics coming from out of state and pushing for the changes here.
 
Upstate, are you from Slaterville? If so, I completely understand your predicament, living in Ithaca. I only ask because Slaterville won that award last year, and I'm just trying to put 2 and 2 together.
 
EMT-I is a fine education program and, in my opinion, should be a pre-req for paramedic. EMT-I and 6 months of bus experience should be required before one even considers applying to medic school. That would certainly raise the bar.

I like being an EMT-I. When I get my MD in a few years I'll help develop it further.
 
lol its part of a program at school here.. we have to follow it like our ABC's why i have no clue....
 
upstateemt said:
Yes, clearer.

I guess my point is that there IS a "market" for mid level providers. I do understand that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and there are certainly I's and CC's that I personally know that scare the heck out of me. But there are also Paramedics that make me wonder as well.

Again, it goes back to the "in a perfect world scenario" and until the world is perfect we need top fumble along as best we can with what we have.
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Sure, we could fumble along...or we could advocate for changes to happen. Not to point fingers, but attitudes like this are why EMS is still being held back; "well, this is what we have to work with, so that's how it's going to be," is a much worse thing to believe than "well, this is what we have to work with, and it doesn't work that well, so I'll start doing anything and everything I can to get changes to occur." If anybody really wants there to be a perfect world for EMS, or even just a better one, then accepting things the way they are isn't the way to do it!

Anyway. Yes, while there certainly are paramedics out there who shouldn't be allowed to do the things that we can, the required education is longer than that of an EMT-I; while they may not end up with the required knowledge, at least an effort is being made to get it to them. Not good, but it's one of those things that needs to be changed.
 
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