Single Mom & EMS - Help Me Decide

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Opal25

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Hi I'm new here obviously and am looking for current EMTs to answer some questions. I'm a single mom of two young children and have always wanted to be an EMT since I was little. However I've heard that EMTs can work crazy shifts and crazy hours. As a single mom I can't work over night so I'm wondering if I should pursue a career as an EMT.
 
Call some of the agencies in your area and ask what kind of schedules they run. I know every service in my area has non 24 hour shifts so it could work.
 
Well, there are a variety of EMS positions that have fairly regular hours. Some people work in hospitals. Some people work in school, on movie sets, construction yards, amusement parks...I myself work one job in an Amusement park...it's fairly regular hours and lots of fun. There are also private agencies that transport people from one facility to another.

There are many, many options for work in EMS that are fairly standardized hours. Most places are different, but there are still options if you look. However, I would recommend shadowing some EMTs, nurses and respiratory therapists. The last two jobs make 2-3 times more than EMTs (unless you also work as a firefighter). Any of those jobs will let you shadow someone for a day. I'd just call a school in your area and ask for the program director, and then ask who they recommend shadowing. They should give you contact info (because they want you to eventually join their program).
 
FireWA1 said:
Call some of the agencies in your area and ask what kind of schedules they run. I know every service in my area has non 24 hour shifts so it could work.
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Thank you I will definitely do that.
 
joshrunkle35 said:
Well, there are a variety of EMS positions that have fairly regular hours. Some people work in hospitals. Some people work in school, on movie sets, construction yards, amusement parks...I myself work one job in an Amusement park...it's fairly regular hours and lots of fun. There are also private agencies that transport people from one facility to another.

There are many, many options for work in EMS that are fairly standardized hours. Most places are different, but there are still options if you look. However, I would recommend shadowing some EMTs, nurses and respiratory therapists. The last two jobs make 2-3 times more than EMTs (unless you also work as a firefighter). Any of those jobs will let you shadow someone for a day. I'd just call a school in your area and ask for the program director, and then ask who they recommend shadowing. They should give you contact info (because they want you to eventually join their program).
Click to expand...
I've also been looking into Paramedics. I'd like to be a nurse but being out and helping catches my attention more. I will call my school and check out the shadowing. Thank you (:
 
Private companies will usually have a shift that can work with any schedule. But it all depends on your local services. Some might just do 24s.
 
Where i am Almost all services do 12's but a few still on 24's! Good Luck! I know alot of single moms who do it and it works!

Do you have family support?
 
The only caution I have for you is that for a lot of people nights are undesirable (which is odd to me cause I love overnights), so in a lot of cases new employees have to work nights until they have enough seniority to bid for days.
But that varies depending on the area
 
Unless you have someone who doesn't mind looking after them, I'd highly suggest doing something that pays more and has better hours. Sure, private companies can offer flexible shifts, but you'll still be working a bunch of long shifts to make ends meet.
 
well, if you can't work overnights, you could always, well, work days....

might be hard to obtain full time employment, but if you are part time or per diem, you can usually specify when you are available. just don't put in for night shifts, and if they have day shifts available, you can work them. The downside is, if they don't have any day shifts available, you won't get to work.

but it is an option.
 
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