Shift question

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villagegirl127

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I am going to be starting EMS-Basic training in a month and have been asked to commit to employment at a priv. amb. to have the training paid for. I am leaving an admin. job and have a set 35 hour work week. Shifts are going to be new to me. I wanted to know what a typical week looks like for a new EMT as far as hours and shifts. Also, would like to hear from anyone who has given up an office job for an EMT career mid-life...I have to do something different at this point, the desk job is getting to me!
 
First make sure it's what you want to do, not just an excuse to get away from the desk (I'm just the first to say it, someone else would have if I didn't). Second, shifts vary between services. I've seen, 8 hour day shifts, 5 days a week. I've seen 12 hour shifts either day or night, 4 days on, 4 off. 16 hour shifts on just weekends. I'm going to be working 24 hour shifts. That doesn't even cover pager/on-call shifts. So everything is pretty individualized based on who you work for and what they need.

With that said, good luck, study hard, and always keep on learning ^_^
 
I am sure it is what I want to do...but am I nervous? HELL YEAH!
 
You need to ask what kind of shifts they work.

Plus be careful about how long they require you to work for them as EMT Basic is not an expensive course. It is often held for under $500.
 
Did you say they will work you a 35 hr workweek?

So not full time....no insurance, no benefits...

Ask if that's permanent or just for probation period (of "X" length of time) and get it writing. Also to get in writing is how long it takes (how many shift hours) for you to "pay them back" and what the consequences are if you fail to meet their criteria, or if they make it impossible for you to. In writing. Think of me as your grandpa and tell 'em your grandpa told you to do it.
 
mycrofft said:
So not full time....no insurance, no benefits...

Ask if that's permanent or just for probation period (of "X" length of time) and get it writing. Also to get in writing is how long it takes (how many shift hours) for you to "pay them back" and what the consequences are if you fail to meet their criteria, or if they make it impossible for you to. In writing. Think of me as your grandpa and tell 'em your grandpa told you to do it.
Click to expand...

Best adivce right there

OR, had a thing I was looking into similar to that for medic though. They would pay for it all, you just had to sign a 5yr contract to work for them, and if you failed or anything at anytime..you paid it back plus some interest and what not..so I backed out of that deal.

I wish you luck in what you do. I would pay for EMT myself, book cheap online here units are 26dollars..so it isnt to bad.
 
^^ +1

Make sure you get in writing a minimum length of employment.

Also, I've worked the following shifts:

24 on 48 off
10 hrs a day x 4 days a week
12 hours a day x 3 days a week
8 hours a day x 4 days a week
16 hours a day, 3 days a week (16, off, 16, off, 16 off, off)

Also when they were understaffed and desperate for staffing, I was asked to come in for 4 hours, paid for 4.5 on a day off, or asked to take a 5th 10 hour shift of the week working as the last truck (as in emergencies only, sometimes they had so many transports a day that they would not be able to handle any emegencies if they had it so they'd ask me to come in for 10 hours at time and a half and promise to only send me as a last resort.)
 
There is also another one, not many agencies use it though, some Fire Departments are using it in my area.

48 hours on, 96 hours off.
 
I'd be careful about leaving a full time job in this economy. I'd be even more careful signing up for an sort of position where I was committed to working a set amount of time in exchange for education.

An EMT-Basic education isn't that expensive. I'd save up the $250-$1000 it costs and do it on your own.
 
MMiz said:
I'd be careful about leaving a full time job in this economy. I'd be even more careful signing up for an sort of position where I was committed to working a set amount of time in exchange for education.

An EMT-Basic education isn't that expensive. I'd save up the $250-$1000 it costs and do it on your own.
Click to expand...

Ditto x 10 and I hope you are listening to all this advice. Smart people, these are!
 
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