Has It Been A Waste?

[Seaglass]

Community College, and it was about 10k.

My issue is that I will never ever feel fulfilled as a Paramedic. Not in any way. I need more, and I need to keep moving. And I am very discouraged by how both schools and employers regard the time spent being a Paramedic and training to be a Paramedic as just about the same as being a Taxi driver, like it's the lowest level, mindless job you can find. Makes it really difficult to move on when 4 years of your life are considered worthless.

If you, personally, will never feel fulfilled in any career a paramedic can have, then you already have your answer. But I'd still encourage you to look into other related options. You've answered for fire, but how about being a tactical medic? Flight? Management? What's your definition of "more," anyways?

 

[exodus]

im guessing a lot of people on here are not from CA. you have to understand how HIGH the cost of living is and how LOW the pay for medics is to really get it. im not asking anything crazy but for the time and work i have put in, id like to atleast make more than the average kid at McDonalds.

$10.00/hr for medics is pretty insane to me. especially when we are entrusted with someone's life. they expect so much from us and we get so little.

im pretty close to going back to work at the tire store i did in HS. i didnt do this for the money but i do need to be able to eat and pay rent.

was it a waste? right now id say yes, until i am able to get a job that i actually pays me a livable wage.

I'm making pretty much $10.00/hour as a Basic...

 

[daedalus]

Terrible one,

AMR Ventura....
(you will make enough to live there)

 

[VentMedic]

Community College, and it was about 10k.

My issue is that I will never ever feel fulfilled as a Paramedic. Not in any way. I need more, and I need to keep moving. And I am very discouraged by how both schools and employers regard the time spent being a Paramedic and training to be a Paramedic as just about the same as being a Taxi driver, like it's the lowest level, mindless job you can find. Makes it really difficult to move on when 4 years of your life are considered worthless.

How many of your co-workers have degrees? Collectively you should be able to raise the professional environment of your work place. If you are the only one with a degree, then you may still be held to the lowest education level which could be the 3 month wonder.

A two year degree is not much education. After a college based Paramedic cert, it is only a handful of science, math and English classes. I can not see how you say that is a waste when it is barely enough by most standards. Many healthcare professions will not let you in the door with anything less than a 4 year degree. What about all the other professions? Accounting? Law? Business of various types? Teachers (excluding EMS)? Engineers? Even welders and the other trades are now getting at least two year degrees to make themselves more marketable.

It is because of this attitude that a degree is a waste that so few do go to college thus you are stuck with the medic mill grads who think they have more than enough education.

 

[JonTullos]

If you know that you'll never be happy as a medic then you really should consider a new line of work. I just became a Basic student but I've been around EMS through my dad's dealings with it long enough to know that it's not something you do for the money. Sure, you might make enough to pay the bills and maybe have a little left over (if you're lucky) but you'll probably never get rich from it. Money's not a huge issue for me. I'm getting into EMS because I've been interested in it since I was a kid and I love helping people in need.

If your heart's not in it then the rest of you shouldn't be either.

 

[fortsmithman]

If education standards ever truly increase nationwide and people stop doing our job for free we will see higher wages nationwide.

Here in Canada we do have higher educational standards as well as volunteer EMS and our paid full time EMS make good money. We have EMT-P's ho make in the lower six figures.

 

[8jimi8]

is it seriously that bad? No one can make your life worthless except you. Do you believe the people telling you that your 4 years of life were wasted?

If you need more, then go out and get it. If you can't live on the money you make, move somewhere else and get more money.

No one here is going to tell you that you wasted your time or that it isn't worth it.

Anybody with that attitude is long gone i'm sure.

 

[Ridryder911]

Community College, and it was about 10k.

My issue is that I will never ever feel fulfilled as a Paramedic. Not in any way. I need more, and I need to keep moving. And I am very discouraged by how both schools and employers regard the time spent being a Paramedic and training to be a Paramedic as just about the same as being a Taxi driver, like it's the lowest level, mindless job you can find. Makes it really difficult to move on when 4 years of your life are considered worthless.

Ironically, it is almost per word I have heard from numerous ones that became a physician. Some of my friends & I were discussing similar issues this past week end. They are now indebted up to their eye balls in student loans or lifestyle that they could never leave the profession if they wanted to.

Instead of a taxi cab driver you can insert any other word such as sanitation, legalized drug pusher, candy man and so on. I know of very few physicians that truly love their work. This is not just ED doc's but various specialities too. Sure they have became accustomed to their life style but to be honest and happy getting up in the morning and having that "spark" to work as one... no.

I have several friends that are physicians and only one described that they would do it again. Many would have had chose computers, research, etc. of not dealing with the public as well. Yes, they had a choice during all their medical school but alike many others either became overwhelmed of being in the system or thought it would really change once they were out.

I am sure there are very happy ones out there, but happiness comes from within. No job, title, sheepskins on the wall or even pay will ever promote and really create that feeling. In looking back, I have had some jobs that paid very well and some that did not. I had titles of being the "big cheese" to being the lowest person on the totem pole. I can say, it was not always when I was considered successful that I was the happiest.

Happiness is a state of mind and you can either create changes to promote or changes to be able to be happy.

R/r 911

 

[Hastings]

I'm actually feeling a lot better after doing some research. It turns out there is a respectable medical profession within reach of a paramedic.

It's called a PA.

Honestly, it's not that I don't love being a Paramedic. It's just that I wont feel fulfilled being JUST a paramedic. I need to keep moving up, improving and learning. I think PA is worth looking into.



And thanks for everyone's opinions and thoughts on the matter. Truth be told, it's just personal issues right now. Being unable to support my fiancé and not being taken seriously. You know, all that stuff.

 

[8jimi8]

take comfort in the fact that there are many people who aspire to be where you are right now. "just a paramedic." I gave up long ago on my aspirations to "change the world." Now I'll settle for making people a little more comfortable! Keeping people a bit safer. I'm sorry the economic woes are after you. Seems like they are after us all right now~ Good luck with your next career, i hope it is something you will find fulfilling.

 

[terrible one]

Considering the amount of training (just over 1000 hours) in CA it takes to be a Paramedic and the very limited scope of practice, some might argue they are over paid.

Besides, CA can use convicted felons if their county sees fit who might be happy to work for $10/hour.

i put in 1500 hours. and im guessing you are referring to LA and OC limited protocols. if you have seen their medics work i bet you'd take away even more. the rest of the States Counties have a much more broad protocol including RSI, crics, etc...

but this is the first time ive seen someone suggest we are OVER paid. did not know we should basically be making minimum wage. wow.

So, no money isnt everything, i rather wake up happy, then make a bunch of money and go to an early grave.

why do you assume i said money is everything? because i want to make more than $30,000 a year? i just want to be able to have a liveable wage.

Terrible one,

AMR Ventura....
(you will make enough to live there)

and if you are familiar with AMR ventura you will know the difficulty in getting hired with them.

I'm making pretty much $10.00/hour as a Basic...

and medics make what? a dollar more? amazing

 

[VentMedic]

the rest of the States Counties have a much more broad protocol including RSI, crics, etc...

Who is doing RSI in California?

The scope of practice for the State of California is very limited. Even what is allowed for CCT by Paramedics is very, very limited compared to other parts of the country.

CCTs and Flight teams in CA have a difficult time getting permission to do advanced practice procedures and meds which is why most teams consist of RNs.

 

[JennyKitten76]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents (worth about a penny tho)

I'm 32 and switching careers to medical from office work. I'm not well versed on the medical stuff yet, so I'm just going to say - you will change career paths a few times (at least) in life. So don't beat yourself up too much. And any education you get will serve you.

Also, any career you choose - its always possible to find a better fit. At 1 place I might be offered $8/hr, and another offered $20 (guess which job I took). I had to look for the positions that were looking for quality, because my skill set doesn't sound much different that a typical secretary on the surface. I think thats something like what VentMedic is getting at...

The quality of your xp and the employer dictate your pay. Keep looking if you're being underpaid.

B)

 

[terrible one]

Who is doing RSI in California?

kern county flight medics. i believe they are also in the process to get a trial run for ground ambulances as well.

and I am curious what the rest of the country is doing that CA is missing out on? (not a sarcastic response, but for my own benefit i'd like to know)

 

[VentMedic]

kern county flight medics. i believe they are also in the process to get a trial run for ground ambulances as well.

and I am curious what the rest of the country is doing that CA is missing out on? (not a sarcastic response, but for my own benefit i'd like to know)

Their air crews are usually RN/Paramedic. If they are Paramedic/Paramedic, the helicopter crew follows just the ALS standards which does not include RSI. If anything has changed, can you provide a link. This would be a big event for CA and I wouldn't want to miss it. However, the MICNs or Flight RNs may have the ability to do RSI.

This is from the Kern County EMS website.

an Air Ambulance based within Kern County shall be
staffed at minimum with one (1) Kern County Accredited Paramedic and one (1) Registered
Nurse as medical flight crew staffing. The one (1) Registered Nurse may be replaced, when
pre-approved by the Department, by an individual with higher medical licensure than a
Registered Nurse at the discretion of the Department (Physician Assistant, Nurse
Practitioner, or Physician). An EMS Aircraft that has medical flight crew staffing of two
(2) Paramedics or less, or does not meet the minimum medical flight crew staffing​

requirement for Kern County, is designated as an ALS Rescue Aircraft.


If you want to discuss differences in protocols and scope of practice for various areas at the Paramedic level, start a new thread as it will make for a good topic. It has been discussed before but there are many new members on the forum who may have something to offer.

 

[terrible one]

my bad, I know that the current medical director has been in the hospital suffering an MI (I believe) and the possible new Dr for the job had mentioned a trial run of RSI for the ambulance crews.
I must have misunderstood him when talking about the helicopter crews having RSI and he was talking about a near 100% successful intubation rate. that was a little bit ago, and I am no longer in Kern Co. So I stopped following the progress, however, if he does take over as medical director I would look for it sooner rather than later as that Dr was very involved in pre-hospital care.

 

[VentMedic]

I must have misunderstood him when talking about the helicopter crews having RSI and he was talking about a near 100% successful intubation rate. that was a little bit ago, and I am no longer in Kern Co. So I stopped following the progress, however, if he does take over as medical director I would look for it sooner rather than later as that Dr was very involved in pre-hospital care.

A Flight team with at least one RN can do RSI. The meds can be given by the RN and the Paramedic can intubate. Or, the two RNs can do the procedure.

It might be later than sooner as the MD would have to petition the state since RSI is not within the scope of practice for a Paramedic in CA. As well, additional meds which are also be out of their scope of practice may have to be requested from the state to maintain the patient after intubation.

 

[rjddvm]

"4 years of your life are considered worthless"? By whom? You? Because you're the only one whose opinion matters on that subject.

I'm of the belief that education is NEVER wasted, and so long as you can pay your bills and have a decent quality of life, who cares how much you make? Some of my old classmates in a long-ago career are now making well over a million a year, but I read their bios online and their jobs sound excruciatingly dull. Sure, I'd love to make that kind of money, but stuck in an office all day, wearing a suit and arguing with people...no thanks.

If you're no longer content with paramedic, by all means look into PA, but don't limit yourself to that. Maybe RN or MD is within your reach, if you're interested. Or maybe something outside of human medicine entirely.

It's never too late to reinvent yourself. Gets harder as you get older, but it's never impossible.

 

[eynonqrs]

It has not been a waste for me. I am happy to be in this profession of EMS. I can't find a better bunch of fellow brothers and sisters. This goes for the service that I get paid and the service that I volunteer with. What angers me is that pro sports people are getting paid more in one year than we will ever see in our lifetime. I would love to make a six figure salary a year. Money is not everything. In fact is the root of all evil. The problem with our society is people don't know how to live within thier means. Why do you think that this country is in such a mess? GREED. I would rather get paid squat and enjoy my job and life than get paid big bucks and die young from stress. I have been in this field for 17+ years. I have seen many people come and go in the EMS field, some come back because they have got bitten by the EMS bug, some never came back because they cried about thier job on a daily basis. If one is not happy with one is doing then one should move on.

 

[Seaglass]

"
If you're no longer content with paramedic, by all means look into PA, but don't limit yourself to that. Maybe RN or MD is within your reach, if you're interested. Or maybe something outside of human medicine entirely.

It's never too late to reinvent yourself. Gets harder as you get older, but it's never impossible.

I'm just going to second this.

I suspect the paramedic training would help with being a PA, too. Hope it all works out, and good luck!