Need a short interview with an EMT/paramedic

[Danth777]

Hello everyone,
as the topic suggests, I'm required to conduct an interview with an EMT/paramedic for an exploration paper.

Simply 9 questions:

1. What experience or knowledge is required to do your job?

2. How does think, value, communicate, act apply to this career?

3. What types of projects, assignments or deadlines must you meet each day (What is the typical day on the job?)

4. Does your job require overtime and what is your work schedule? What is a typical entry level salary range for this field?

5. What preparation of courses did you find necessary or helpful upon entering the job? What was your major in college?

6. Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this necessary experience?

7. What is the biggest challenge you encounter?

8. If you were entering this career today, would you change your preparation in any way to facilitate entry?

9. What advice would you give someone thinking about this career?

Anyone feel free to answer, as I'm taking more than just one person's response.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Shishkabob]

1: The knowledge required to be a (good) Paramedic is an extensive understanding of how the human body works, and how the human body fails to work with different disease processed... followed by how to correct / stabilize / minimize those diseases when they do happen in an emergent fashion.


2: Think: You have you interview a patient and collect data on their condition, than formulate a working field diagnosis to begin treating them.

Value: You have to value human life, as if you just blanketly don't care, than you won't be pushed to do a good job.

Communicate: When on the scene of a call, you have to successfully communicate with other providers, because the Paramedic is the lead of the healthcare team outside of the hospital. They need to plan ahead on patient care, anticipate all that can happen, and let their team know what needs to be done to provide the best possible outcome.

Act: Can't get anything done without acting, can ya?


3: At the beginning of every shift I check out my truck, making sure all necessary equipment is there. If it's not, and I need it on a call, I'm bound to get in a lot of trouble. Some places have station chores that must be done such as sweeping the garage. The truck must also be cleaned.

On top of the paperwork I must do, not only for the patients, but also the narcotics I carry (The DEA gets angry if something is missing)


4. You will not be able to work any length of EMS without somehow getting overtime. Many schedules have OT built in (such as 24hours on, 48 hours off, has 80 hours of overtime a month). You might find some places that have 8 hour trucks, but alas, you never plan to get off on your scheduled time in EMS as things can popup.

Salary wise really depends on where you live, and your certification level. EMT-Basics make pretty much nothing. Paramedics can make a livable wage.


5. Any class that has to do with science, communication, or the human body/ psyche will be great help. My college major was actually Criminal Justice.


6. Go to school, get your dgree.


7. The biggest challenge in this job is dealing with the worst of mankind, and yet staying sane and treating everyone fairly, even if they don't deserve it.


8. Yes. I would have started sooner, and gotten my degree in Paramedicine a lot sooner.


9. Get your EMT and try some rides on the ambulance. You'll find out pretty quickly if it's for you or not. If it IS for you, go straight to your Paramedic, don't wait too long as an EMT.