Quite the predicament: medic school or job?

[IloveLamp]

I know there is a lot of back and forth discussion of getting field experience before entering (taking a leap) into a paramedic program.

Here is my situation. I am a new EMT, just got offered a job with a local ambulance company. I can either go into a medic program in March or September. I just don't know what to do, I am in a great place either way just need some feedback from you!

Should I decline opportunity & enter the program in March, ask if they can possibly work around March's medic program ( go to school & get experience ) - Or take the job and hold off until September?

Alright, I am ready to hear what you got...

 

[MMiz]

Go to school and see if they will work with your schedule.

 

[UnkiEMT]

I, of course, am on the flip side of the issue.

There is no doubt in my mind that I'm a better medic because I worked for a couple few years as a basic before I went for my Intermediate, and then for a couple few more as a intermediate before I went for my medic. It was frustrating as all get out at the time, but I think it was worth it.

I don't even think people should skip intermediate on the way to medic...Of course, some states don't have an I, so that makes that position harder to take.

Is it possible to run straight up the chain in school without working and still be a good medic? Sure, it's harder, but it's doable

These are the problems I see with it:

1) Medic school will be WAY harder for you. One of the people in my medic class was doing basic to medic with no work experience, and she struggled constantly compared to the people who had worked. In my opinion, basic class teaches you enough so you can go in the field and learn the rest of being a good basic without killing anyone.

2) It's going to be harder for you to find a job out of medic school with no experience than it will out of basic school, again, not impossible, but harder.

3) If you only ever work as a medic, you're going to have to struggle hard to remember to do your basic skills first, you're going to want to play with all your shiny ALS skills, not to mention your basic skills won't be as good. I have maybe 7 clean saves since I got my medic, 10 people who I can say without a doubt that it was the presence of EMS that saved their life...6 of them were basic skills that did it. I mean, I went on to do all my ALS skills, but they would have made it to the hospital if I hadn't don't all that.