Why do I want to place time, money and invest anything for them to leave? Again, what most forget this is a business. True, the business is saving lives, but again it is a business and attempting to be a profession. It will never be as long as we are full of transient EMT's.
Actually I find it refreshing when a company does invest in the future of health care professionals. Entry level jobs should be that and only that while moving on to bigger and better careers. EMTs, CNAs, ER Techs, RT equipment techs, etc, all should have employers that encourage them to get moving on their careers. They need to stay sharp and focused on learning quality medicine and not get stale. They shouldn't hang out until they are maxed on their pay scale.
If the EMS company has both BLS and ALS, they should truly be preparing the EMTs to advance. The same goes for nursing.
If you truly have no interest in doing work as an ER Tech or CNA, what makes you think it is going to be that much better when you are an RN. At least some of the "tasks and skills" will be second nature to where you can do them quickly (and you'll have to) and get on with the RN responsibilities. This is the part that messes Paramedics up that take the mail order RN program. They have no basic nursing skills to draw on from even clinicals or working as an ER Tech.
Granted, hospitals are more advantageous than EMS when wanting career growth because it doesn't matter what your entry level job is most of the time. You will still be able to benefit the hospital when you graduate. Being in something similar just makes it easier for others to help your progress. That, too, is an advantage for EMS.
In other words, I think it is a good thing if people leave entry level employment because they have advanced their education to pursue a CAREER regardless of what it might be. You can say your company attracked ambitious and motivated employees.
If your turnover is because you are hiring warm bodies and they are constantly looking for greener grass or consider a nickel more an hour as an attractive career move, then I would say your hiring practices need reviewing. If you have dead wood employees that lack motivation and don't want to do anything but be miserable and complain, then that too should be prevented if possible.
I just don't believe EMT should be looked at as a career but just another challenge or rung on the ladder of whatever profession you choose.
Of course there are exceptions and reasons why some remain as an EMT. Nothing wrong there if they can maintain professionalism and stay motivated to learn and increase their knowledge regardless of their certificate level.
there are a lot of jobs out there that are 'stepping stones' so people can figure out where they will go from there.....personally i'm starting out as an emt to see how much i want to pursue paramedic school and i want to be well rounded in emergency medicine, even though my major is nursing, i don't want to start out as an er tech (right now).....what's wrong with that?
