Part time EMTs and Paramedics

[CCCSD]

My day job is being retired. My PT job is LE. My past jobs working out of non-standard rigs was in the military, and i have/am/been a FT PM, a PT PM, a Deputy Sheriff (ret), Paid Call FF, College Prof, EM, TCCC/TECC/EMT etc Instructor, Protective Services Detail TL, SWAT TEMS TL, FTO, PTO, Active Shooter Instructor, TEMS Instructor, Clinic Coordinator, running a Military Medical Clinic and Deployed Battalion Aid Station, Crew Chief, Coxswain, just to name a few...

 

[Peak]

I've worked with full time medics and EMTs who should never be entrusted with patient care and part timers who have been absolutely great.

I do think that there is an initial learning period after becoming a medic or EMT in which good high volume clinical hours build their experience, but depending on where your work even a full time job may never provided the needed contact hours to achieve this. Some systems will have their units on more calls in a 12 hour shift than another system may have a unit run in an entire week, and part timers in the former system may achieve the experience they need in very quickly. I think that the more independent the person's role is the more time this requires, whether it be a dual EMT ambulance in a busy system or a single paramedic on an ambulance 45 minutes from the nearest hospital.

I think what it comes down to is can a EMT or medic remain competent part time? Many can, but many cannot. Unfortunately this means that many times staff hiring needs to be made on a case to case basis which is difficult and often results in policies that require part timers to work full time somewhere else, be former full time staff, et cetera.

I know that personally there is no way I could pick up occasional shifts in a busy urban 911 system now, there is just no way I could keep up.

 

[Tigger]

I know that personally there is no way I could pick up occasional shifts in a busy urban 911 system now, there is just no way I could keep up.

I only went a couple of months not working in the city and the first few shifts back were...rough... Lesson learned on that one, even one 12 a month seems to help keep the cobwebs away.

 

[chriscemt]

...and by part time, I mean a career employee who works for your agency on the ambulance, but has a another full time job unrelated to EMS...

I'll let you know in ten years when I start a third career teaching high school math during the week.

 

[johnrsemt]

A lot of companies would not be able to stay in business without PT people; but most of those PT people are FT in EMS somewhere else

 

[joshrunkle35]

What are your thoughts on part time EMTs or Paramedics? and by part time, I mean a career employee who works for your agency on the ambulance, but has a another full time job unrelated to EMS or public safety (in @bigbaldguy's case, he's a flight attendant, I used to work with a guy who was medic on the weekend but had a full time job working as a chemical engineer, there are probably others on here that I am not including).

In my current county, we won't hire any paramedics part time, but the next county over mandates that all new hires (part timers included) must attend and pass a 4-6 week academy, which is 40 hours a week during business hours.

Are part time EMTs ok, but part time paramedics are not? are part time parmedics ok, but EMTs are not? and before anyone asks, I'm not asking about individual providers, I'm asking about overall thoughts and opinions on the concept.

I work as a Part-Time Paramedic/Shift Supervisor. I work full time in sales in the dental industry, and I am full time in Nursing School.

My perception is that it keeps EMS fresh and enjoyable, and I don’t get burnt out. It also makes it possible to pay a mortgage. Most guys I work with work 2 full time jobs in EMS and a part time job and their spouse works and they can’t afford to buy a house.

 

[DrParasite]

I work as a Part-Time Paramedic/Shift Supervisor. I work full time in sales in the dental industry, and I am full time in Nursing School.

Now that's interesting.... were you ever full time, and then went down to part time?

and it's interesting that you are a part time employee and a shift supervisor... I know plenty of EMS agencies that would make the requirement to be a supervisor (or active supervisor) over a shift be a full time employee.

 

[CCCSD]

At one point, I was PT and Sup. It can happen.

 

[Summit]

In the hospital world, house managers (shift sup for the hospital) are often a mix of full time and part timer/per diem (with years of RN experience including at that facility).

 

[medicdan]

I'm back from the dead... to give my few cents.

I've been a PT EMT/Medic virtually throughout my career-- although had busy time (and excellent FTOs) as a new EMT and Medic. I work a 16 virtually every week (but sometimes take a week off), and frequently work in cities I've lived in for 10+ years. I also teach PT, and honestly, my students keep me honest with their questions!

My FT gig is an office job, but still intimately involved in EMS, protocols, and clinical care. My biggest worry is skill proficiency-- but I spend extra time in sim, with other instructors (and MDs) to ensure I keep those up. All medics at my service must meet the same M&M requirements, skill proficiency standards and QA'd the same.

Short answer, I think for the right staff, PT works fine-- as long as skills and knowledge are kept current. With that said, I think it's very difficult to quantify what and how that works-- and you need to rely on the experienced staff to self-regulate.

 

[ThatPrivate]

I feel like it depends on the person and the system. Like at lot of other people have said in this forum as long as the person keeps their skills proficient there is no problem. In my experience I have met a lot of providers that don't want to scenarios or practice skills between calls because they have been doing it for X amount of years. Turn-over rate is high and burn out is even higher for various reasons. I can't even say the shift length is a factor since a lot of other professions work the same length of time. Pay, call volume, lack of "good calls", bad supervisors, co-workers, lack of career advancement, etc. are all reason why people leave their job/EMS profession. If a person loves the profession of EMS; however, for one reason or another cannot work it full time I feel like part time should be an option. Personally, I would consider working part time to help keep me from burning out. I know nurses and RT's that work part time because they have small children. I know people in other professions that work part time jobs just for spending money; however, when I talk to people in EMS most work another job just to afford a comfortable lifestyle. In order for agencies overcome being short staffed part time employees should be considered and utilized.