Help, anyone?

[paramedichopeful]

WAHOOOOO! I got my first job shadow with a Paramedic scheduled for this coming Wednesday. I'm so excited! I can't wait to talk to people who do this everyday and find out what it's really like. Problem is, though, I have absolutely no idea as to how I should present myself. I've never really had an interview before (well, not a formal one. the interview at McD's doesn't count) and I don't know what to say, what to do. I hate to sound like a woman but also i have no idea as to what I should wear. Anyone have any ideas? I want to make a good first impression; I've heard that in the business circuit a good reputation is very important.

 

[Shishkabob]

I mean this in the nicest way... Enter button! :wacko:


Wear khakis, belt, and polo shirt. Don't plan to do or say anything--- just live in the moment. Sit there, and if you have a question, ask it.

Some agencies will let you partake in CPR as long as you are certified.

 

[paramedichopeful]

thanks, I think that would look nice. I can't wait!!! I probably won't eat or sleep until then. They faxed me a copy of my info for where I need to go and all that, and on the bottom was a job opening! part time; sweeping the floor, dumping trash, etc. down at the ambulance barn. they said it would be a good chance to talk to the Medics as they came and went. oh well I guess you gotta start somewhere. can't be any worse than working at mcdonald's, huh?

 

[Ridryder911]

thanks, I think that would look nice. I can't wait!!! I probably won't eat or sleep until then. They faxed me a copy of my info for where I need to go and all that, and on the bottom was a job opening! part time; sweeping the floor, dumping trash, etc. down at the ambulance barn. they said it would be a good chance to talk to the Medics as they came and went. oh well I guess you gotta start somewhere. can't be any worse than working at mcdonald's, huh?

First calm down.... seriously. It's just a job. In comparison to McD's .. hmm; I would say McDonald's has most EMS beat. They require more education and training for their management than the majority of EMS and pay is much more at a managerial salary.
Be careful upon whom you compare with.

Don't see how being a janitor will assist you in getting into EMS. Maybe knowing the employees but be careful, it's hard to get real enthusiastic people like yourself ... hence they may want to keep you in that position.

Remember all professions have their good and bad.... it's nothing like t.v.

R/r911

 

[HotelCo]

Remember all professions have their good and bad.... it's nothing like t.v.

R/r911

Wait, what? Are you trying to tell me that I won't be running Code 3 all day, rescuing children from burning buildings, saving 90% of patients in Cardiac Arrest, and dealing with trauma day and night?


Seriously... as Rid said, it's just a job. A very fufilling job, but a job none the less.

 

[paramedichopeful]

Ok, I know that the TV shows are fake. I mean, ER and all that is good in the sense that it entertains the people. Also, the nurses on there (mainly Lucy) are hot. But, when it comes to reality, it's all a far cry from the real world. There is one good show, though. It is "Trauma: Life in the ER" on the Discovery channel. They actually take you into the ER of hospitals all around the country and show you how it really is. "Dr. G. : Medical Examiner" is a good one too, but all the blood and internal composition is blurred over.
Secondly, I know that sweeping the floor may not be that exciting. But, I'm hoping that it will give me plenty of chances to get to know the crew and they said something about maybe arranging some ride-along time. Don't forget; the all-mighty dollar gets you a lot but it isn't everything.

 

[Melclin]

You wanna be a little wary about what those "reality" shows say about what "really" happens. I've never seen the program you mentioned but if its anything like the ones here, it's sanitised beyond recognition. You don't see the bullying, the gallows humour, the gallows not-so-humour, the unprofessional (sometimes illegal) behaviour, the frustrating inefficiencies in the system, and the suffering (not blured out trauma pt's face you see moaning for two seconds before it cuts away to an add break, I mean the on going misery that people endure after loosing a loved one or dealing with a chronic illness, the way the world sh*ts on the mentally ill and the disabled etc)...it goes on. I've only seen a little bit, but I'm starting to get why people who've seen it all get pissed off when Johny Know-it-all, comes along with his 12 minute CPR card and wants to fly helicopters and blow up germs with anti-biotic rockets.

For the record, I like those shows; I like playing armchair doctor and throwing chips at the screen when corny stuff happens. I'm sure you've had this lecture already, and I say this in the most constructive way possible; don't be the guy who read the 'ambulance' Wikipedia page, watched an episode of Trauma and claimed to have some idea of what EMS is all about. I'm not saying this to come across all superior and experienced (I'm not, as u can see I'm a student), I'm saying it because people in EMS really seem to hate people like that so I'm warning you in the nicest way I can think of... If you turn up all bright eye'd and bushy tailed, to sweep the floors and bounce around with "knowledge" of EMS, you will get crucified. It's like that here, and if anything, it seems worse across the pond. So just be careful, mate.

 

[marineman]

Well I'm a little late now but I would have called the company and asked what they want you to wear. Anyone doing ride alongs with my company is asked to wear black pants and a white polo to look similar to our uniform but there are specific things that aren't allowed to be worn so people don't confuse you with being a paramedic.

I've seen Trauma: Life in the ER and that's still not really life in the ER. How many patients on that show have died as a result of their injuries? As Melclin mentioned it's just not the same unless you're there and can see the agony of the patient, see, hear, and smell everything that's going on. And you must realize that in most systems running major trauma calls like you see on that show are about 5% of what we do.