options at this point...recommednations?

G

griffithsgriffin

Forum Crew Member
Messages
83
Reaction score
0
Points
0
so I figured I have 2 options for getting my foot in the door for EMS (goal of someday becoming a FF Medic):
-Keep my current job as a physical therapy aide and get on as a volunteer with a FD...get some experience and get certs/possibly medic school paid for
OR
-Get a job as a non-emergency medical transport driver...this would give me EMS experience I would need for Medic school as required by Washington State DOH. Plus I wouldn't have to worry about my free time being used up by volunteering, however the certifications and training that come along with FD's wouldn't be there.

I have my national EMT-B btw. Most of the EMT jobs around where I live are non-emergency transport. Honestly I am kind of leaning toward keeping my current job and volunteering. I am 24 and figured realistically it'll be another 3 years before I am a paramedic with any decent job prospects. Thoughts??
 
I would choose option B if you are able to live on an EMT wage. In your spare time you can still volunteer as a FF while getting patient contact. As for the FD putting you through medic school, here in Southern Cali that takes years of time to do. You could just as easily work as an EMT and put yourself through medic school and you will be much more desirable. FD save a lot of money hiring people as medics rather than paying their own to go through medic school because they have to pay you to attend school and someone to fill your spot.
 
It would be nice if you listed option "C"
Go to med school!
 
Non emergency taxi transfers does not = EMS experience. Stay in PT and volunteer with a VFD for experience
 
Non emergency transports will be your quickest way to reach hours to medic school though. If you want to get into medic school most require 1000+ and that will take a very long time volunteering on 24s and working full time.
 
so that brings up a good point: are non-emergency medical transport gigs considered EMS? I assume that ambulances with a wheelchair division (ie MetroWest) would qualify, but other rigs like Noah Medical Transport or Golden Chariot?? Also, where I live (Vancouver, WA) has hardly any actual EMT-B jobs which is why I ask about non emergency transport gigs. Also, the reason volunteering is attractive is because it is a pain in the butt getting a job without state certs, and this would give me agency affiliation for state cert. also, dipping into portland is also a huge pain due to reciprocity. every option has a hurdle though, no excuses
 
I hardly consider BLS transports such as dialysis calls, hospital discharges, etc to be EMS. That being said a wheelchair van I would have to believe is not considered EMS.
 
Doesn't matter if the wheelchair can is operated by an ambulance company, such work is not considered EMS and most places require little more than a CPR card to drive one.
 
Tigger said:
Doesn't matter if the wheelchair can is operated by an ambulance company, such work is not considered EMS and most places require little more than a CPR card to drive one.
Click to expand...

That being said, it doesn't mean that you can't improve your skills while working there - especially in the areas of history taking and report writing.
 
Achilles said:
It would be nice if you listed option "C"
Go to med school!
Click to expand...

Years of providing ALS care full time, understanding all the big words and some of the concepts while drinking cans of beer in my 1 bedroom apartment makes me lean towards Option C.

Medic should not be the aspiration of a 24 y/o with a high school diploma.

Don't be stupid. Go to med school, stupid.
 
EMS is 90 percent customer service. Working for a transport company will get you that in spades.
 
ffemt8978 said:
That being said, it doesn't mean that you can't improve your skills while working there - especially in the areas of history taking and report writing.
Click to expand...

bigbaldguy said:
EMS is 90 percent customer service. Working for a transport company will get you that in spades.
Click to expand...

Both of these gentleman hit it right on the money. Transport EMS will teach you a lot, if you aren't ignorant and bitter that you're just "lugging lizards". You'll get lots of practice with assessments, documentation, and patient interactions, and you'll also see a LOT of chronically sick people.

To the OP: I'll echo the thought to consider if EMS is truly where you want to be. I will tell you that I love my chosen career field, but EMS is predominantly a young person's game.

I have a B.S., and am taking grad classes towards an MPH right now. I'm honestly not sure what I want to be when I grow up :ph34r:, but I know that I LOVE being a paramedic, and I want to do that, in some form, for as long as I can. That said, I also need to find a job that pays decently, so that I can live comfortably, and hopefully, one day, raise a family.

Medical school may not be the answer, either - I've seen some statistics that question whether you'll get a reasonable ROI on the debt load one must acquire for Medical School. Some other options are RN (which is a different mindset than Medic), and becoming a PA. I truly encourage you to think about other medical education options -BUT, if you truly want to be in EMS... well, we can use more people like that!

Jon
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jon said:
Both of these gentleman hit it right on the money. Transport EMS will teach you a lot, if you aren't ignorant and bitter that you're just "lugging lizards". You'll get lots of practice with assessments, documentation, and patient interactions, and you'll also see a LOT of chronically sick people.

To the OP: I'll echo the thought to consider if EMS is truly where you want to be. I will tell you that I love my chosen career field, but EMS is predominantly a young person's game.

I have a B.S., and am taking grad classes towards an MPH right now. I'm honestly not sure what I want to be when I grow up :ph34r:, but I know that I LOVE being a paramedic, and I want to do that, in some form, for as long as I can. That said, I also need to find a job that pays decently, so that I can live comfortably, and hopefully, one day, raise a family.

Medical school may not be the answer, either - I've seen some statistics that question whether you'll get a reasonable ROI on the debt load one must acquire for Medical School. Some other options are RN (which is a different mindset than Medic), and becoming a PA. I truly encourage you to think about other medical education options -BUT, if you truly want to be in EMS... well, we can use more people like that!

Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks for this post. These are some of the issues I'm trying to work through myself. Nursing feels different, medicine is a huge investment, and an unrelated bachelors can easily end up somewhat useless in making you more marketable.
 
Jon said:
Both of these gentleman hit it right on the money. Transport EMS will teach you a lot, if you aren't ignorant and bitter that you're just "lugging lizards". You'll get lots of practice with assessments, documentation, and patient interactions, and you'll also see a LOT of chronically sick people.

To the OP: I'll echo the thought to consider if EMS is truly where you want to be. I will tell you that I love my chosen career field, but EMS is predominantly a young person's game.

I have a B.S., and am taking grad classes towards an MPH right now. I'm honestly not sure what I want to be when I grow up :ph34r:, but I know that I LOVE being a paramedic, and I want to do that, in some form, for as long as I can. That said, I also need to find a job that pays decently, so that I can live comfortably, and hopefully, one day, raise a family.

Medical school may not be the answer, either - I've seen some statistics that question whether you'll get a reasonable ROI on the debt load one must acquire for Medical School. Some other options are RN (which is a different mindset than Medic), and becoming a PA. I truly encourage you to think about other medical education options -BUT, if you truly want to be in EMS... well, we can use more people like that!

Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks friend. I have a few semesters left for my BS, but honestly I don't think a degree is always the answer (though I plan on finishing). The cost for medic school is ridiculous. $10,000 to make $30,000 a year? That is why I want to be a firefighter. I have done several ride alongs, and it is fascinating work. I still consider myself young, but at the same time I am getting to that point where I want something longer term in the foreseeable future. But thanks for the encouragement, as I do think EMS is what I want.
 
Have you considered moving some where else? Sounds like schools in your area lack common sense. There is no reason to require a person to waste time at the bls level. Do you see med schools making you be a nurse aid then an lvn then an RN then a NP or PA then finally becoming a doctor? No you don't.
 
medic417 said:
Have you considered moving some where else? Sounds like schools in your area lack common sense. There is no reason to require a person to waste time at the bls level. Do you see med schools making you be a nurse aid then an lvn then an RN then a NP or PA then finally becoming a doctor? No you don't.
Click to expand...

I have been thinking this lately. The only school in my city is NCTI, which I believe is ran by AMR and I do not hear good things about. Also, I called the recruiter at AMR and she told me that State Certification is required prior to being considered for employment. Wish I lived in Oregon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top