Paramedic going to FL

[EMTBHillbilly]

I'm going to be getting my card in Aug (hopefully). My goal is to move down to FL where I have a house near the beach and work part time in a hospital, doing transports, etc. I am 58 yo so don't expect to be able to land a 911 job anywhere near Charlotte County even though I'm currently working part time for a 911 county agency here in WV.

My questions are:
1. Does this sound reasonable?
2. What's it like trying to get a FL card.
3. Is the FL test much more difficult than the Nat Reg. and what is on it that's not on NR?

Any information or advice anyone has will be greatly appreciated.

 

[akflightmedic]

Sounds reasonable, may be weird transporting all your friends...but hey we all get there one day.

EMS/911 is out of the question as that area (as is most of FL) is fire-rescue. YOU should be able to get a transport gig easy enough....the demographics allow for that.

I am unsure on current reciprocity requirements so go to the FL dept of EMS website.

When I moved to FL here is how ridiculous it was....if you became a medic in FL you sat for National Reg and was granted a card. If you came from another state, you had to challenge their STATE exam....even if you already held a National Registry card which I did....didnt quite make sense.

FL test has a few state specific things such as State Trauma Guidelines and our yellow DNR papers/process. Other than that, it is ridiculous easy.

 

[Pavehawk]

Sounds reasonable, may be weird transporting all your friends...but hey we all get there one day.

EMS/911 is out of the question as that area (as is most of FL) is fire-rescue. YOU should be able to get a transport gig easy enough....the demographics allow for that.

I am unsure on current reciprocity requirements so go to the FL dept of EMS website.

When I moved to FL here is how ridiculous it was....if you became a medic in FL you sat for National Reg and was granted a card. If you came from another state, you had to challenge their STATE exam....even if you already held a National Registry card which I did....didnt quite make sense.

FL test has a few state specific things such as State Trauma Guidelines and our yellow DNR papers/process. Other than that, it is ridiculous easy.

You do not have to sit for the NREMT-P if you become a medic in FL. All that is required is the state test. EMT-B uses the NREMT as the state test for initial and "moved here" certs.

 

[EMTBHillbilly]

may be weird transporting all your friends...but hey we all get there one day.

Come on akmedic, I get enough of that stuff from the kids in class! HA!

And thanks for the info. I hope the FL test is easy. I'm so tired of tests at this point.

 

[akflightmedic]

You do not have to sit for the NREMT-P if you become a medic in FL. All that is required is the state test. EMT-B uses the NREMT as the state test for initial and "moved here" certs.

I did say I was unsure of current practices as my info is over 12 years old.....Moved to FL in 1999.

 

[medicjosh]

I'm also considering moving to FL...specifically the Miami area.

I know by me a lot of the transport companys have contracts for 911 ambulances with nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Is this also the case in FL or can I expect to be doing strictly interfacility transports?

I've also noticed that paramedics are utilized in the ED in FL. Can anyone explain how this would work? Are you like a nurses aid? Doing 12-leads, wiping asses, fetching blankets? Or do you actually get to use your skills and have some degree of autonomy?

 

[legion1202]

IF you need information on the fl medic test sent me a priv. Its very easy and if you passed the NREMT-p u should have no problem. I just took it a few weeks ago. I cant give you any questions it had on it but.... as always BLS before ALS.. Also look up Thoughts to ponder... Thats all you need to study..

GL..

 

[EMTBHillbilly]

I'm also considering moving to FL...specifically the Miami area.

I know by me a lot of the transport companys have contracts for 911 ambulances with nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Is this also the case in FL or can I expect to be doing strictly interfacility transports?

I've also noticed that paramedics are utilized in the ED in FL. Can anyone explain how this would work? Are you like a nurses aid? Doing 12-leads, wiping asses, fetching blankets? Or do you actually get to use your skills and have some degree of autonomy?

MedicJosh, I have talked to people in hospitals around the Sarasota-Englewood area of FL. It seems like some hospitals use Paramedics as ER techs and others use them to the fullest extent of their scope of practice. . . but they all seem to use them in the ED. The smaller hospitals sounded more enthusiastic about paramedics in the ED.

 

[legion1202]

TO MEDIC JOSH..

The state is dryed up on funding and most cities are broke.. We do not use private ambulance companies for 911 contrats. Miami/dade has there own fire rescue... Broward uses county and local cities. Its very tuff to get a medic/911 jobs.. I`m moving out of the state because of that.. You have to be fire certified to even have a chance.. When departments open up they usually have 6-10 spots.. They get over 2k applications and they will pick military background first or work expirence.. Then college expirence... I just graduated paramedic school so i`m still young in the industry.. But i have friends who are now having to recert in Fire because theres no jobs.. AMR and medic are hiring but they only do IFT.. no 911 contracts and if they do backups... You have to get in line to get a shift on that truck...

Again FL is very flooded with jobless medics and emts.. becareful coming down this far south.. North FL however does have some 3rd tier systems/private companies running 911.