First Post

[LHKJohn]

Whats up guys/girls? Long time lurker here.h34r: Maybe some of you guys are in or have been in the same position as me and could help me out with some advice.

Originally I, like I'm sure some of you have, took EMT just to have and use to take more Firefighter exams. And like some of you may know, that whole process is a grind and could take years, especially here in Southern California. I passed my National Registry back in January and acquired all of the other licenses but Ive been hesitant to quit my current job/jobs to go the whole EMT to Paramedic route. Eventually my goal is to become a Firefighter/Paramedic and I'm pretty passionate about pursuing that.

Ive been on quite a few ride alongs with EMT's at ambulance companies and I totally admire what some of you guys do and could totally see myself doing that, but its the pay that kinda makes me hesitant to dive into that. Is the pay as an EMT enough for most of you guys to support yourselves/families? Or do you have supplemental income? I, by no means am trying to jump into EMS for the money, but I am a little bit older(coughTHIRTYcough) and have had a decent paying career for the past 12 years and what people tell me, I would be taking close to a 50% pay cut initially. Which I wouldn't mind if it would get me where I want to be, faster.

That said, I have a few interviews with ambulance companies in the next couple of weeks and will to have to make a pretty big decision about my future pretty soon here. Soooooo... Any advise, pros, cons, success stories, failures I can get from you guys would be awesome. Stuff like, how long it took to get into paramedic school or Fire departments etc would be nice to know too.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AJ Hidell]

...I would be taking close to a 50% pay cut initially. Which I wouldn't mind if it would get me where I want to be, faster.

It's not going to get you anywhere faster. Fire departments don't care about anything more than your certification. Experience driving an ambulance isn't going to give you an edge in that hiring process.

Fire applicants and EMTs are a dime a dozen in SoCal. Thousands apply for every opening. All other things being equal, the only thing that is going to give you a significant edge is a paramedic cert. Unfortunately, most fire wannabes in SoCal go for the fast track to paramedic cert, with a 10 week cram course to pass the test, instead of real medical education at a degree program. But that's what happens when being a paramedic is nothing but a means to an end for people. Like you, they don't really care, and would happily skip the EMS stuff altogether if they could. That's why EMS sucks in SoCal, but I digress.

No, there is no way I would let playing ambulance driver interfere with an existing successful career for zero return. The ONLY benefit that such a move might possibly hold for you is that it would fulfill the "experience" requirement to get you into some paramedic schools (although not all of them require experience). Otherwise, it's just a bad move all the way around. The money is horrible and never gets any better. The hours are horrible. The working conditions are horrible. The "experience" works against you once you get to paramedic school. And worst of all, it can get addictive and cause you to make some really stupid career decisions that would affect your family. No, I wouldn't recommend it.

Good luck!

 

[LHKJohn]

Thanks for the reply!

While your assessment of the situation sounds much like the very own argument I have with myself about it, I still wonder if it would be beneficial for me to go that route. Every paramedic school Ive looked into in my general area requires at least 1 year "Experience" as you put it, on an ambulance or FD. Some private schools require as little as 6 months. Either way, If paramedic school is in my plans, there is no way around "playing ambulance driver".

As far as the Fire application process goes, you are absolutely right! I have been actively testing for the past 2 years anywhere up to 100 miles from where I live and there are literally thousands testing for the positions each time. I have never scored less than 80% and usually over 90% on the entrance exams and I have only gotten 1 interview from it. from there it went from 2500 to 250 applicants and I didnt get it.

I am curious however why you believe EMS in California sucks. Do you mean sucks as in, sucks to work for? Or sucks as in, inefficient? Because in my county there are hospitals less than 10 minutes away from pretty much anywhere you are at, 3 trauma centers located 10 miles or so apart of each other and fire stations and ambulance stations located everywhere in between. Add that to the ED nurses having a max number of 5 patients, I would say that is a pretty efficient EMS system and the reason I want to be involved in the first place.

 

[AJ Hidell]

I am curious however why you believe EMS in California sucks. Do you mean sucks as in, sucks to work for? Or sucks as in, inefficient?

In many cases, both. It is terribly inefficient, with much duplication of effort, too many cooks in the kitchen with multiple vehicle responses to one patient, and a serious lack of continuity of care due to the non-transporting fire medics being in charge of care, yet turning the patient over to a transporting crew which often is of lower level of training. There is absolutely nothing efficient about that type of system.

Sucks to work for, especially for the non-fire medics, because the abuse their employer endures from the city/county and fire department is only passed down to them in the form of low wages, long hours, and sub-standard conditions. Not to mention the lack of respect that is given to easily replaced employees who hold no real value to the employer in a community where multiple schools are pumping out thousands of replacement EMTs and medics every year. And worst of all, you are not allowed to function to your full potential when you are just a tool of the fire medics, reducing you to little more than an ambulance driver, no matter how well educated and qualified you are.

And most important, it sucks for the patient. The vast majority of the paramedic providers in SoCal are poorly educated in 10 week medic mills or other "accelerated" patch factories that provide only the very bare minimum training necessary to pass a test. They rarely get the opportunity to fully practice, since the fire medics are in charge, and because each response has so many paramedics on scene. And worst of all, an frighteningly enormous number of medics in SoCal never really wanted to be medics in the first place. To them, it was nothing more than a hoop to jump through in order to get a fire job. Had they been given the choice of skipping EMS altogether, the vast majority would do so. And the moment they are no longer required to work EMS, they will go back to a ladder truck and a recliner chair in a heartbeat. Consequently, you end up with poorly educated people doing something they didn't want to do in the first place. There's just no way that this can add up to a system that doesn't suck. I feel sorry for those seriously committed medical professionals, who take both the profession and their education seriously, who are stuck in such a system. They will never be allowed to function to their full potential, and never paid anywhere near what they deserve. Basically, SoCal rates right up there with New Jersey as the top places that will never, ever join the 20th century in EMS.

 

[JROD]

Personally, if you are committed to progressing in the EMS field, starting at the bottom is really the only thing to do. Starting on a BLS rig whether it be fire or ambulance is a great way to learn the basics. Working for a private BLS company won't get you many stat calls, but it will allow you to learn and understand patient assessments and teach you to recognize the signs and symptoms of the chronically ill pt (they are on a variety of different meds so take the time to learn those as well, it will help!). These are great skills to have in this profession and are an excellent base to build before starting paramedic school.

Working as an EMT is never going to make you rich. However, if you're ultimate goal is to become a firefighter/paramedic, you may have to suck it up and work for the horrible pay. I worked for a BLS company for about 2 years, and I personally feel that the experience gained has helped my progression to where I am now (which is a paramedic). If you can afford to take the hit and still provide for you're family, it would be worth it to take that progressive step toward your ultimate goal. Do what you gotta do while you still can and while you have the dedication and the drive to get it done!