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BHammond1

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Greetings everyone, I've posted on here a few times but for the most part I'm just a stalker, looking at everything people have posted. I've been interested in the emergency medical field for years, and I'm finally getting to a point in my life where I could have the time necessary to devote to it. However, I have a few concerns that I'd love to have some honest advice about.

I'm not looking for hand-holding or a pat on the head, so feel free to give it to me straight. I want to hear what people think my chances are in regards to getting a job in this field, or even constructive criticism on things that I need to work on. At the same time, I'm not sure how much weight your comments would hold since I'm pretty committed.

1) I am a 22-year old male who will graduate from a 4-year university in May. I'd assume that college degrees are sought after in the EMS field, but my degree doesn't have anything to do with EMS at first glance. Do you think that would help or harm my chances?

2) I have a minor speech impediment. It usually does not impair my life, and I have the skills necessary to minimize and/or mask it. Nevertheless, it does come out more when I am nervous--something I'm sure will happen in this field--but I'll have to get over that.

3) I have a math learning disability that can make it difficult for me to compute numbers in my head. Again, I'm sure it would be difficult but it's something I'll have to work through. Are meds pre-loaded or do EMTs have to draw and calculate them?

There's that. Thanks for the advice/constructive criticism and stay safe.
 
I have a math learning disability that can make it difficult for me to compute numbers in my head. Again, I'm sure it would be difficult but it's something I'll have to work through. Are meds pre-loaded or do EMTs have to draw and calculate them?
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EMTs will have to do little to no math as there are few drugs they can administer. However, the drugs Medics can give depend on the drug, and how it's packaged. One company can have a preloaded syringe for one drug, and another will have a multidose vial for the the same drug. Some drugs have weight based calculations.

I suck at math in my head too, but that's why they make clipboards with little calculators built in :]
 
BHammond1 said:
.1) I am a 22-year old male who will graduate from a 4-year university in May.
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Congrats!

I'd assume that college degrees are sought after in the EMS field, but my degree doesn't have anything to do with EMS at first glance. Do you think that would help or harm my chances?
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It can only help. It will not hurt.

2) I have a minor speech impediment. It usually does not impair my life, and I have the skills necessary to minimize and/or mask it.
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So its not a problem.

3) I have a math learning disability that can make it difficult for me to compute numbers in my head.
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Write the numbers down. Not a big deal. We carry paper and pens with us. Most cell phones have calculators.
 
if you are that detremind to do it, then do it. What we say here will not keep you from it. Good Luck. :rolleyes:
 
A 4 year degree in an unrelated field shows that you have the ability to dedicate yourself to a goal and work towards it. It is a good thing even though unrelated.

As an EMT-B you will not be doing meds. But some simple math is required. I am not math challenged but my math abilities tend to hide during moments of high stress.

The speech impediment will be as much or as little of a hurdle as you make of it. You will need to communicate with pts and their families.... a lot.. and the nurses/docs at the ER.. and bystanders, cops, .... So, if that is an issue, perhaps not the best path for you. But if you can get past it and make yourself understood under high stress situations when you have had little or no sleep and you are surrounded with emotional individuals then go for it.
 
BHammond1 said:
Are meds pre-loaded or do EMTs have to draw and calculate them?
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EMTS don't have but 1-10 meds depending on where they work and those are usually ready to be given or only require counting like giving four baby aspirins for cardiac patients. Now if your talking Parmedic you could have over a hundred drugs, most only carry 25-50, in the drug box and have to calculate how much, how fast, etc. You will also have to calculate to properly use med pumps and even vents.
 
as long as you can multiply by 4 as well as deduct the weight of a chair from the total weight you are fine.
 
Bossy kind of eluded to this, but your speech impediment will likely only affect you as much as you let it. If you can get your point across, it is not likely to interfere with your work. However, like any other field, people can be cruel and insensitive so if you think that coping with your speech problem and people's potential reactions to it under high stress settings is going to be overly distressing... you might reconsider.

I have a lisp that definitely worsens when I'm anxious. Although this isn't as significant as a problem such as stuttering, for example, it does embarrass me. I've learned to avoid saying phrases that tend to make the lisp obvious and when it does come out and people comment on it, I just kind of have to shrug it off. It has gotten easier over time because I am much more comfortable and confident talking to patients and other providers now than when I was starting my EMT program just one year ago. Don't get discouraged if you struggle with it a bit at first. No one comes into EMS without a problem or two that they have to overcome.
 
BHammond1 said:
2) I have a minor speech impediment. It usually does not impair my life, and I have the skills necessary to minimize and/or mask it. Nevertheless, it does come out more when I am nervous--something I'm sure will happen in this field--but I'll have to get over that.
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On of the older, and quite a bit better medics where I went to school had a speech impediment. Not a problem.
 
LucidResq said:
No one comes into EMS without a problem or two that they have to overcome.
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Mine is shyness which I am learning very quickly you cant have in this field :rolleyes:
 
Math issues? Clipboard case with a calculator in it.
 
Take math courses to prepare you. NEVER rely upon equipment other than your brain to get you by. Again, time to QUIT making excuses.

I always test Pharmacology without allowing students to use calculators. It's called using their brains. Something we do not stress enough. One should be able to demonstrate the proper way to get an answer by problem deduction and basic mathematics.

One can be very proficient by rigorous studying and repeated studying. I suck at math, but took additional courses to work my way up and through all the math needed for pre-med. So yeah, it's time consuming but with determination one can do it... how bad do you want to achieve this?

The same with your speech. Can't talk under stress? Something to consider. Most people learn the stress goes down with knowledge. I will admit though, most fellow co-workers will not tolerate (very long) the inability to understand one on a radio and if the patient appears to have to repeatedly ask or appears to be unable to understand. Expect a lot of ridicule. I wish I could say it will be okay, but EMS is brutal and not for everyone. Yet, again with practice and determination, you can overcome anything.

Good luck,

R/r 911
 
Ridryder911 said:
Again, time to QUIT making excuses ... So yeah, it's time consuming but with determination one can do it... how bad do you want to achieve this? ... Expect a lot of ridicule. I wish I could say it will be okay, but EMS is brutal and not for everyone. Yet, again with practice and determination, you can overcome anything.
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Thanks, Rid. To be honest, I posted this thread with you in mind ;). I'm not looking to make excuses or anything of the sort, and I think that if I decide on this for a job I won't let anything stand in my way. I'm just well aware that I have a few extra issues that I have to work through and I wanted to get other people's advice or opinions on them.
 
This isn't news to you, but the world doesn't stop because of your disability, and your patients deserve not only a competent medic, but the BEST medic. As you've probably found with school, you'll need to find a way to adapt to be successful.

Paramedic math is basic high school algebra. I teach 25 students each day with math learning disabilities that struggle but find a way to learn and master the material. That often means that they spend hours more than other students, get one-on-one help, create study tools, and work far more than their peers, but they do it.

Anything can be accomplished, and we all have a story in EMS. If tested I think you'd find many exceptional Paramedics qualify for certain types of learning disabilities, but their positive attitude and determination make them who they are.

It's time to ditch the excuses, evaluate what you need to do to be successful in EMS (if that's your career choice), and do it. I wish you the best of luck!
 
I took tenth-grade math not twice. Not three, four, or five times. I took it SIX. Drug calcs, etc., were difficult for me. But practice, application, and honest self-assessment go a long way. And I agree with Rid: bag the calculator. LEARN it, and you'll be better serving yourself, and thus, your patients.

The speech impediment thing... Societal norms dictate I say "oh, it'll be no problem," however, I'm not so sure this is the case. Then again, I don't know to what degree this is an issue for you, but spoken-word communication is vital. If you've got means to control /overcome this... that's good--however, I'd suggest you keep working on them, as it's obviously an issue enough TO YOU to warrant mention in the first place.


Later!

--Coop
 
A learning disability can be overcome (not removed) with dedication and sometimes medication. It really depends on the individual. A very good friend of mine has just completed Paramedic school, passed National Registry and is already working. This after the majority of his peers told him he couldn't do it. He proved them wrong. More importantly, he proved to himself to not let his disability prevent him from achieving what he wanted. Was it easy? Of course not. However, he had the desire, was brave enough to ask for help from his doctor and strong enough to trudge through.

You can do it.

John Legg
National EMS Association
 
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