night shift

CelphCtrl

CelphCtrl

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Hello.
I just got a job offer (EMT) for a full-time night shift(1800-0600). I also go to school full time, but I worked out a viable schedule for school work.
I have a few questions....
I haven't done orientation yet. What happens during one of those?
What should I wear for orientation?

Is the night shift strenuous?, a lot of calls? or varies?

Is there a pay increase? What is that pay?

Thanks
 
CelphCtrl said:
Hello.
I just got a job offer (EMT) for a full-time night shift(1800-0600). I also go to school full time, but I worked out a viable schedule for school work.
I have a few questions....
I haven't done orientation yet. What happens during one of those?
What should I wear for orientation?

Is the night shift strenuous?, a lot of calls? or varies?

Is there a pay increase? What is that pay?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Usually orientation is filling out paperwork, getting you familiarized with the equipment, and showing you how they expect things done. Can be a couple hours to a couple weeks.

Wear business casual if you haven't been issued a company uniform. Slacks and a button-up or polo should be fine.

Your stress level is dependent on you. Your run volume and pay differential is dependent on your company. That varies tremendously between services.

Congrats and good luck.
 
CelphCtrl said:
Hello.
I just got a job offer (EMT) for a full-time night shift(1800-0600). I also go to school full time, but I worked out a viable schedule for school work.
I have a few questions....
I haven't done orientation yet. What happens during one of those?
What should I wear for orientation?

Is the night shift strenuous?, a lot of calls? or varies?

Is there a pay increase? What is that pay?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I work nights currently and a busy night for us about 8 calls. While we don't get an increase in pay for working the night shift, we are paid OT after eight hours and DT after twelve hours.
 
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CelphCtrl said:
Hello.
I just got a job offer (EMT) for a full-time night shift(1800-0600). I also go to school full time, but I worked out a viable schedule for school work.
I have a few questions....
I haven't done orientation yet. What happens during one of those?
What should I wear for orientation?

Is the night shift strenuous?, a lot of calls? or varies?

Is there a pay increase? What is that pay?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Like everyone else is saying orientation is paperwork, getting familiar with how the company operates and what they expect from you as a employee, also wear business casual. I worked nights for awhile and it all depends what and where you work. Whether it be BLS or ALS can affect the call volume in the area you work in. I worked 2200-0800 and 8 calls was a busy night. We averaged about 2-5 calls. The only pay increase was time and a half after 0800 and DT after 0900.
 
I like night shift, but it's a different animal than day shift usually. The number of calls you get, and whether or not you're busy depends on where you are at and what system you're in.

Where I used to work as an EMT, and again as a medic, 8 calls in a 12 hour shift was the norm, and with 12 not being uncommon. It just depends.
 
I am moving things around for this orientation.
This one is 40 hours. I can understand one day of orientation with no compensation.
Is there compensation for the orientation?
 
Different companies do different things for pay. Every hour of my orientation was paid for.
 
CelphCtrl said:
I am moving things around for this orientation.
This one is 40 hours. I can understand one day of orientation with no compensation.
Is there compensation for the orientation?
Click to expand...
I couldn't. If I'm there, you better be paying me.

Yes, typically orientations are compensated.
 
CelphCtrl said:
I am moving things around for this orientation.
This one is 40 hours. I can understand one day of orientation with no compensation.
Is there compensation for the orientation?
Click to expand...

I got compensated everyday I attended orientation.
 
CodeBru1984 said:
I got compensated everyday I attended orientation.
Click to expand...

Yup, if you're on company time they have to pay you. If they start wanting non-paid orientation and/or trial days...I'd run away like a rabbit with fangs was chasing me.

(monty python anyone?)

My orientation is going to be 10 days, and I get paid for each day at my normal rate.
 
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If your agency system status management you tend to move between posts quite a bit more at night due to less units being on duty.

Calls generally are different as well. Here we tend to get more violent crime and drug/alcohol related calls than during the day but that's not all. You get plenty of regular medical calls as well. We're a busy system, 8 calls is an average night. I've done upwards of 16-17 calls in a 12 hour night shift before. I've also batted zeros. Like donor said its agency specific. The time of year also plays a roll and presence of special events in the area makes a huge difference as well.

If you plan on working nights and going to school during the day between shifts good luck. It might work for a while but eventually you'll get to the point where you can't do it anymore and it can start affecting your grades as well as your work.

If you have a "routine" like going to the fun every day don't stop it because of your new job, maybe you have to cut the amount of time you spend there down but try and still keep the habit up.

Also, agreed on being paid for attending orientation. If its a paid service and you're required to be there you need to be getting paid. I've never worked for a company that didn't pay during orientation. That's any job, not just EMS.

Good luck!
 
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another thing...
I have tickets to an event that I worked so hard to get, but this new job may give me a shift on the days of the event. I really would like to be able to go, especially how hard I worked to get the tickets.

Generally, how friendly are ambulance companies and day off requests?
How likely am I going to get those days off, if I request them two months in advanced?
Do you just request days off and depending on how much they like you, they give you days off?
 
Robb said:
If your agency system status management you tend to move between posts quite a bit more at night due to less units being on duty.

Calls generally are different as well. Here we tend to get more violent crime and drug/alcohol related calls than during the day but that's not all. You get plenty of regular medical calls as well. We're a busy system, 8 calls is an average night. I've done upwards of 16-17 calls in a 12 hour night shift before. I've also batted zeros. Like donor said its agency specific. The time of year also plays a roll and presence of special events in the area makes a huge difference as well.

If you plan on working nights and going to school during the day between shifts good luck. It might work for a while but eventually you'll get to the point where you can't do it anymore and it can start affecting your grades as well as your work.

If you have a "routine" like going to the fun every day don't stop it because of your new job, maybe you have to cut the amount of time you spend there down but try and still keep the habit up.

Also, agreed on being paid for attending orientation. If its a paid service and you're required to be there you need to be getting paid. I've never worked for a company that didn't pay during orientation. That's any job, not just EMS.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I only go to school 4 days a week. 5 hours on 2 of the days and the other 2 days for 2.5 hours.
With the schedule they told me I would have, it sounded pretty optimal for me to get my school work done.
12 hours on T/Thr
12 hours on fri/sat/sun
and the next week only T/Thr
And that also gives me time to have this "fun" you are talking about. I never had fun in my life, and never will.
 
CelphCtrl said:
another thing...
I have tickets to an event that I worked so hard to get, but this new job may give me a shift on the days of the event. I really would like to be able to go, especially how hard I worked to get the tickets.

Generally, how friendly are ambulance companies and day off requests?
How likely am I going to get those days off, if I request them two months in advanced?
Do you just request days off and depending on how much they like you, they give you days off?
Click to expand...

First off, if they are saying no pay orientation. Run.

Second ask questions if they didn't specify what to wear for orientation ask them.

As far as days off. Its something that you need to take up with the employer I know if I tell my employer with advanced notice about specific days off. they will give it to me. Its up to your employer I presume
 
During your probation? Good luck getting time off unless someone agrees to cover for you. If its in your FTO period it's not an option to take time off, here at least, unless you have a really good reason and a concert isn't considered one.
 
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