Currently, I am an EMT student aspiring to start paramedic school soon after. There aren't many options in my area to get my feet wet, otherwise I might. I have several questions...
1. Though it is not a requirement of the college I am attending, I have read several places (including these forums) that Anatomy and Physiology be completed before started Paramedic courses. Why is this? It is obviously common sense to have a strong grasp of A & P, but is the education in most paramedic programs not adequate enough? I'm slightly hesitant to take it prior because including preqs thats a year past finishing my EMT. That is a year of possibly forgetting and losing many skills. Also I'm impatient and want life out of college to finally begin.
2. I'm grasping the basic A & P of the course, and I'm doing well on quizzes - but obtaining a blood pressure is rather difficult for me? Should I be incredibly worried? Would purchasing a blood pressure cuff and obsessively practicing help?
3. I'm living in a small midwestern city and would like the freedom to live elsewhere. If I attend paramedic school here and then want to move immediately after or soon after, would it be possible to find work? Is reciprocity as difficult as it seems?
4. What cities is it easiest to find exciting/fulfilling work?
5. The majority of people in my class are taking it to get onto the fire department. Many are actually pretty vocal with not wanting to do anything with EMS. I on the other hand want to be a paramedic, have since I was a teenager. If after getting my EMT-P I apply with a fire department, would I have to wait several years to be promoted to work in an ambulance?
Yep, loaded post. Thanks for your time!
1. Though it is not a requirement of the college I am attending, I have read several places (including these forums) that Anatomy and Physiology be completed before started Paramedic courses. Why is this? It is obviously common sense to have a strong grasp of A & P, but is the education in most paramedic programs not adequate enough? I'm slightly hesitant to take it prior because including preqs thats a year past finishing my EMT. That is a year of possibly forgetting and losing many skills. Also I'm impatient and want life out of college to finally begin.
2. I'm grasping the basic A & P of the course, and I'm doing well on quizzes - but obtaining a blood pressure is rather difficult for me? Should I be incredibly worried? Would purchasing a blood pressure cuff and obsessively practicing help?
3. I'm living in a small midwestern city and would like the freedom to live elsewhere. If I attend paramedic school here and then want to move immediately after or soon after, would it be possible to find work? Is reciprocity as difficult as it seems?
4. What cities is it easiest to find exciting/fulfilling work?
5. The majority of people in my class are taking it to get onto the fire department. Many are actually pretty vocal with not wanting to do anything with EMS. I on the other hand want to be a paramedic, have since I was a teenager. If after getting my EMT-P I apply with a fire department, would I have to wait several years to be promoted to work in an ambulance?
Yep, loaded post. Thanks for your time!