EMT jobs after training

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dmitriy

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Just wondering how people faired in finding EMT jobs after doing training? Can someone like myself with little medical experience get hired as an EMT after completing a training program and being certified?

And wisdom would be appreciated Thanks
 
Yes. It happens all the time with many people.
 
I had zero clinical experience and very little overall work experience and still got job offers.
 
dmitriy said:
Just wondering how people faired in finding EMT jobs after doing training? Can someone like myself with little medical experience get hired as an EMT after completing a training program and being certified?

And wisdom would be appreciated Thanks
Click to expand...

How else would one get experience without getting a job? Everyone has to start somewhere. Only thing is, we often don't get to start where we want to end up. I'm counting volunteer work as a job.
 
Set yourself mad objectives, short (1 year), medium (5 year) and longterm (20 years).
I will guarantee you will achieve them all if you have the drive to stick with it.

In 1990 I wanted to stop taking people to hospital and instead treat them at home using drugs and clinical knowledge that a doctor would employ (as a paramedic). I've achieved all that and much much more.

it really is doable but you will have to fight against your colleagues and managers as well as doctors twho continually tell you that what you want is wrong and you are not fit to do such things. Ignore them and carry on - it will take a huge amount of heart to do it but anything is achievable.
 
Pond Life said:
Set yourself mad objectives, short (1 year), medium (5 year) and longterm (20 years).
I will guarantee you will achieve them all if you have the drive to stick with it.
.
Click to expand...

So for someone like me at 22 starting out, what would you think would be a good short term goal to shoot for? for the next year.. My goal would be to get on as a volunteer or part-time FF/EMT at a local dept within the next year.. Is that reasonable? Im doing EMT training this summer/fall and wanting to do a fire academy next spring to get my first level cert.
 
which route you choose is very much up to you and what is available in your area.

Short term objectives for you should be to gain confidence and competence in your role.
If you concentrate on consolidation of your:
  • communication skills with patients,
  • primary & secondary assessments,
  • familiarity with equipment,
  • knowledge of protocols and procedures,
  • health & safety,
  • clinical care and
  • your role in assisting other EMT-B & P
within your scope of practice then you will gain competence and hopefully earn the respect of your peers.
This will be the foundations of your career because every journey starts with the first step, you get it right and the journey is easy - get it wrong... :sad:

Things to avoid -
Talking a load of Bullsh8t - always be honest and comment within your knowledge base
Keenness - some of the EMT/Paramedics and officers you mean will see being over keen as a negative thing, likewise to be too laid back can also have the same effect - it's a fine line. That one you have to figure out.
By all means ask questions to paramedics that you meet but don't harass them - they will start to avoid you.

I'm sure there are loads of other things but thats it for me for now.

I don't know if you guys have to do clinical logs evidencing practice - but if you do make sure you choose 5 call-outs within the year and write them up focusing on the above areas.
 
I got my EMT-B cert a few years ago and didn't do anything with it, re-certed and got a job right away with no EMT experience. I had over a year of clinical experience in different hospital departments though. There are so many private companies you could probably get hired with at least one. As for fire jobs, you just have to wait till they open up for testing but good luck. Those jobs are more difficult to get without experience. The ambulance company I worked for was mostly IFT and just got a fire contract to be back up for another company but we never got any 911 calls. Pay was $10 for attendant only and $11 for driver/attendant but they offer more based on experience. Other private companies that run 911 pay $8/$9. Worked there for about a year for the experience and now just got a job as an ER tech in Laguna Beach but I also got my phlebotomy cert. You can for sure find something!
 
Hi,Thanks for posting information about works after a job training. This will help a lot and give an idea to those who have just finish their degree on the same field of study.
 
Still Looking for Work In St. Louis area

I have had my EMT-B in Missouri now for almost 5 years and have such a hard time finding work, but I am still trying. :)
 
You may want to consider:

Non-emergency transport positions

Hospital based EMT positions by contacting your local MICU unit

Medical Scribe

Nursing Assistant
 
I would have loved to do some volunteer work at some of the local stations, since half of Austin is still ESDs for Fire. Unfortunately I just couldn't afford to dedicate that much time without pay. If you can go this route, by all means, I'm sure it is worth it. But if you can't afford to be jobless, then don't be afraid to seek out a job. Like maaany others, my first job as an EMT was at some random IFT out of town. A few months later I dropped that job in order to work as an EMT in an ED 15 minutes from home.

One of the big points the ED Director made in the interview is that they aren't so much worried about my experience and skills, because they can and will (and did) teach me what I needed to know and more. That goes for any service. Know your BLS, textbook NREMT skills, and go hunting with a good attitude.
 
dmitriy said:
Just wondering how people faired in finding EMT jobs after doing training? Can someone like myself with little medical experience get hired as an EMT after completing a training program and being certified?
Click to expand...

In both western MA and western VT you can easily get EMT work if you are not particular about what shift/s you work or if it is per diem or perhaps per-call paid. (You can sometimes make out well financially on per-call work.)
The real challenge is to find a service where you can as an EMT do much more than drive the vehicle.
There are enough Paramedics to put one on every ambulance, which pretty much means the EMT helps carry the gurney and drive. He also keeps his mouth shut. (And often keeps his eyes cast on the ground and keeps hands humbly folded in the presence of greatness.)
The only exceptions are when the service is too broke to afford Paramedics on every vehicle. In that case, you pretty much have to call for an ALS support interception for damned near to every call that is not a transit to/from nursing home and doctor's office. Maybe an occasional hang nail or bloody nose (that is not too bad).
 
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