Frustrated

newbierootie0325

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Hello there. So I am only been on this site for about two months but for the most part it seems like a great area to get some insight and guidance. So here is my issue. I graduated from paramedic school and recently go my medic license (two months ago). While all this was taking place my husband and I had a baby. I was blessed that I was able to get off the truck and be a stay at home mommy however I am ready to get back to work and get some experience as a medic. I have 4-5 yrs on a 911 truck in a slow service and then a busy service as a Basic and Aemt but like I said...none yet as medic. So anyways my frustration is my husband as a amazing job that looked like it was going to transfer us back home (so i could work for my old service yah!!) however they post pone it for 6 months. There are only a few work options were I am currently (would only be for 6 months). Two of those never hire (supply vs demand) and one is only 24 hr shift with automatic call back. No way is this momma working a possible 48 away from baby. I got that job and turned it down. And then there is a transfer service who only does IFT. I have some experience in IFT but it was most critical transfer which was amazing. I also applied for this job and got it. Not to sound some kind of way but I don't have to work but rather want to work. I love this profession and love learning and want to become a great medic. I just have the normal frustrations from going from a great busy 911 service with a great reputation to doing IFT. So should I take the IFT job or wait six months and return to my 911 job I love.And how would working 6 months on IFT look on resume? Worse not having worked at all? Thoughts?
 

VFlutter

Flight Nurse
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My first advice is to break up your post into a few separate paragraphs.

I am somewhat confused on what the issue is. Not many places are likely to hire someone knowing they are leaving in 6 months and you were lucky enough to get two job offers. The first job you turned downed because of the shift schedule which is your choice as a new mother, can not blame them for that. Then the second job you seem to think is beneath you since you have previous experience as an EMT/AEMT doing "critical" IFT and this is just normal IFT...even though you have never worked as a medic.

Since you pointed out you did want to "sound some kind of way" I think you already know it comes off. To sum it up, you don't have to work and you only want a job doing busy 911 or critical care IFT with only 24hr shifts even though you have no experience as a medic and are leaving town in 6 months? And you are frustrated because your current options are not as cool as your previous job? Good look finding that perfect job that you are apparently entitled to.
 
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Drax

Forum Captain
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A gap in employment for that stretch of time, plus being a new mother...I don't think it would be an issue if you didn't work. If asked about it during an interview, I would tell it like it is. I was a new mom and my husband was informed he would be transferred in a few months, so it didn't seem appropriate to go out an get a job just to quit it right away. Alternatively, you might want to think about getting in touch with your perspective employer (the one in the area you'll be moving to) and see if you can't finesse your way into reserving a spot there for when you get there.
 
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newbierootie0325

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Thank you Drex for your reply. I did exactly what you are suggesting and reached out to my previous employer and they said I have a position when I return which is a blessing. Chase thanks for your reply as well. I seemed to upset you and I am sorry I came across wrong. Most paramedic I know who work IFT love it but they have put in time in 911 and are tired of the 911 lifestyle. I am not. The situation with the IFT company was with the interview process. It was very informal and it seem that just applying got you the job. I was looking for a place that put more time and energy into finding quality personnel. That is why I was a little taken aback. I don't feel like anything is below me at all. I actually am taking the job as I am not so ignorant as to think I can't learn a lot from medics in the IFT side of EMS. I was just looking to hear from someone who maybe started their paramedic career in IFT and could tell me how it helped them and what to pay attention too or specific questions to ask.
I am sorry if my coming across like I don't want to work IFT or that it is below me but I don't know many who want this to be their life time goal
 

Gurby

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My only concern would have been that it might look weird on your resume to work someplace for 6 months and then quit... But if you already have a job for when you get back, then I think the experience can only help you.

I started in IFT. It's whatever. IFT and 911 are different animals but I think really any experience is good experience to a certain point. I was certainly still learning and improving after every call after a year of IFT.
 

Akulahawk

EMT-P/ED RN
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I have also done 911 and IFT as a medic. What I found is that 911 is good for developing speed and economy of movement. It's not as good at allowing you to get into what the underlying problem or problems a patient has that are contributing to their current issue(s). I also found that IFT work is awesome for allowing you to get into the weeds a bit about patient problems and how they interact and contribute to the patient's current issues. IFT work isn't usually great for developing sheer speed though.

As Gurby stated above, they're just different animals and should be approached as such. Sure, you can learn general things about how to deal with animals in general but if you want to get really good at dealing with a particular species, you should specialize in it. Some of what you'll learn there will cross over to dealing with other stuff.

In my regular job, I'm an ER nurse. That's pretty much all I have been as an RN. I do take care of ICU patients, med/surg patients, urgent care patients, and so on... sometimes all at once, but I'm no specialist in any of those. I can go over to another area and provide care but since I'm not a specialist in those areas, I'm not going to be able to provide care to the same level as someone that has specialized in that.
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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First off, congrats on the Baby. If you don't already know, many sleepless nights await you.

I have to ask, what do YOU want to do?
The situation with the IFT company was with the interview process. It was very informal and it seem that just applying got you the job. I was looking for a place that put more time and energy into finding quality personnel. That is why I was a little taken aback
I won't repeat my feelings about IFTs, or paramedics doing IFTs. Some people like them, some don't. To each his or her own.

And yes, I have heard about and experienced situations where IFT companies were so desperate, as long as you showed up with your card in hand, and a pulse, you were getting the job. sometimes the pulse was optional

Don't take this the wrong way, but most decent agencies (like the ones that are selective about who they hire) aren't going to want to hire someone for 6 months. the agency credentialing process can sometimes take 3 months, during which you are in training, and then they will only get your full time for 3 months before you need to start elsewhere.

If you have a job lined up when you get home, as a paramedic, than the 6 months of employment won't hurt you, but your temporary employer might not be happy that they trained you from newbie medic status and then you bailed on them. But if it won't affect you, in the future, go for it.

my first paid EMS job was doing IFT for a really ****ty private service, making $10.25 an hour. I left there after a week for a less ****ty service making $11.25 an hour, and did that for 3 months. Met some awesome people, and have some good stories to tell (none of them about sick patients), but that was about all I could handle. 4 years later I was back doing 911 once a week, from midnight on Friday to noon on Saturday after my day job, in a grossly understaffed and under resourced urban city, and later was hired by a hospital based system part time for in their urban & suburban divisions. a year later accepted a full time position on a hybrid IFT/911 truck, before transferring to an urban 911 only truck. I've done PICU CCT (which was ok, but the nurses attitudes towards EMTs sucked), and adult CCT (which I didn't enjoy, but I rarely got to transport sick people; others had more unstable patients). And I have also done communications (both 911 and IFT) during my career, as well as FTO, Instructing, and Special Ops. The reason I mention all this is because each role I have held (yes, even communications) has given me a better understanding of the system, what I enjoyed doing, and more importantly, what I didn't like doing. As they say, if you've seen one system, you've seen one system. What they do at the systems you applied to might be different than what happens at the job you have lined up in 6 months.

If you work for the IFT company, you will get good at talking to people (which many EMTs have trouble with), reading paperwork from the facilities and dealing with monotony. You can learn different illnesses, and what meds are prescribed to treat them. It's 6 months, and will give you some time interacting with adults (my wife has been watching our almost 10 month old since he was born, and is looking forward to going back to work part time), and help you swing back into the routine of going to work again. And you got a job lined up for when you move back home; what you do until then should be whatever you want.
 

medichopeful

Flight RN/Paramedic
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In my regular job, I'm an ER nurse. That's pretty much all I have been as an RN. I do take care of ICU patients, med/surg patients, urgent care patients, and so on... sometimes all at once, but I'm no specialist in any of those. I can go over to another area and provide care but since I'm not a specialist in those areas, I'm not going to be able to provide care to the same level as someone that has specialized in that.

Come to the dark side (ICU). We have food and fewer patients.
 

hometownmedic5

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Sounds like you want the world to cater to you and not the other way around. Since this is not a thought process I espouse, I have no words of wisdom.

You are but an inconsequential cog in a great big wheel. You have to fit into the world, rather than trying to get the world to fit into your life. If the jobs on offer don't work for you, and you don't have to work for monetary reasons, then stay home and raise your kid. When you get home, if you want to go back to your previous job, and they'll have you, then it sounds like a winner to me.

Personally, if I was hiring for a medic and I had an applicant tell me they just had a baby and isn't going to let anything get in the way of child rearing, had no medic experience, and oh by the way is leaving in six months, that application would be in the trash can before the applicant left my office. Harsh, absolutely. Fair, absolutely. When you can commit to the needs of the service, you'd be welcome I'm sure, but I wouldn't hire a half in half out part timer with no experience and no commitment.
 
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