the 100% directionless thread

[RocketMedic]

I am the sandwich god...triple decker toasted roast beef and sharp cheddar with mayo, mustard, red bell peppers and cucumber side and a tall, frosty orange juice for an old lady at 0200 with a sugar of 38 and the shakes. BGL 38 to 161 and an hour of company and preventative maintenance, no need for meds or craziness. Yeah!

 

[fast65]

True.

The cloud is back too, that's not helping either.

I can't say the same thing for me...but I am regaining my title as the candy man.

 

[exodus]

Cloud yesterday for me too, first call we got 10 mins before we were even scheduled to start. Code 3 transport for an MI. The one after that was a cut and rescue who got flown out.

 

[Tigger]

Nothing like falling on your *** in front of the pt, family, medics, and 7 firefighters. And hearing a collective "oooohhhhh".

Could be worse, you might have been center ice at Division 1 hockey game in front of 3000 fans while both teams skate around you firing pucks.

That was my very first hockey game. Saturday marked the last one. I never went on to the ice during the game for an injury, which is something I am certainly ok with. I only go out if someone is leaving the ice via stretcher, and we are thankful that has not happened in five years in our building.

There were times that my boss (who does attend to players on ice) was tied up with another injury and primary assessment would have fallen to me, but I suppose I carried a bit of luck.

 

[9D4]

Well, got the news for the scholarship today. Full ride, only problem is, it's a rather limited program (through Northern Arizona University), because they are all blended degrees, which means I get the degree from NAU, but attend a community college.
So, like I said, rather limited program, these are all the health care degrees;
Bachelor of Arts or Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (90/30): Emergency Services Administration
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies -- Emergency Services Management
Bachelor of Science Health Science -- Allied Health
Bachelor of Science Health Science - Medical Assisting
Bachelor of Science Health Science - Paramedic Care (BS)
Most of them seem relatively worthless as they are extremely limited field of hire after obtaining the degree (i.e. Emergency Services Management/ Admin).
I was thinking paramedic, but it's hard to convince myself to devote 3 years to a bachelor's, for something that can be done in less than 1 year for a cert.
Allied health seems to be overall well rounded, but limited in scope of what they actually can do. Same for medical assistant.
I want to go straight to fire science, but my uncle ended up convincing me to get a degree to fall back on, in case of an OTJ injury (he was a firefighter who had both legs amputated due to an OTJ injury).
These are all kinda crap degrees. :glare: I suppose as long as it's free... Lol.
Any one have a suggestion?

 

[Handsome Robb]

Well, got the news for the scholarship today. Full ride, only problem is, it's a rather limited program (through Northern Arizona University), because they are all blended degrees, which means I get the degree from NAU, but attend a community college.
So, like I said, rather limited program, these are all the health care degrees;
Bachelor of Arts or Science in Interdisciplinary Studies (90/30): Emergency Services Administration
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies -- Emergency Services Management
Bachelor of Science Health Science -- Allied Health
Bachelor of Science Health Science - Medical Assisting
Bachelor of Science Health Science - Paramedic Care (BS)
Most of them seem relatively worthless as they are extremely limited field of hire after obtaining the degree (i.e. Emergency Services Management/ Admin).
I was thinking paramedic, but it's hard to convince myself to devote 3 years to a bachelor's, for something that can be done in less than 1 year for a cert.
Allied health seems to be overall well rounded, but limited in scope of what they actually can do. Same for medical assistant.
I want to go straight to fire science, but my uncle ended up convincing me to get a degree to fall back on, in case of an OTJ injury (he was a firefighter who had both legs amputated due to an OTJ injury).
These are all kinda crap degrees. :glare: I suppose as long as it's free... Lol.
Any one have a suggestion?

Yea you can do it in a year but having the BS will open doors down the road to you as far as vertical movement. If I could go back I'd have done my BS first then medic school, or a BS in Paramedicine.

I know where you're coming from though, I'm an instant gratification type of guy.

It doesn't seem like it now but it'll be worth the extra effort in the long run.

 

[adamjh3]

Engh. I've gotten one out of about a dozen IV attempts and managed to get actually yelled at by a nurse. Like raised voice anger yell, not scolded.

 

[9D4]

Yea you can do it in a year but having the BS will open doors down the road to you as far as vertical movement. If I could go back I'd have done my BS first then medic school, or a BS in Paramedicine.

I know where you're coming from though, I'm an instant gratification type of guy.

It doesn't seem like it now but it'll be worth the extra effort in the long run.

If I were doing it purely to climb the ladder down the road, then wouldn't the Emergency Services Admin be better off than paramedicine? It seems like the BS in paramedicine would initially open the door for a position, but the Admin would be better for further down the road.
At least that's what it seems like from my perspective.
I'd never heard of the Emergency Services Admin degree, so this is what the site says

The program has two main goals: 1) to provide an understanding of the administration and management of emergency services with an emphasis on the roles and job expectations of public safety professionals and emergency managers, and 2) to prepare students for leadership roles in emergency and disaster administration by stressing independent research, communication and writing skills, and contact with experts with practical experiences in respected emergency services organizations.

The Emergency management seems to be focused more on the logistics/ operations of MCIs and how to plan for them, recovery processes, etc.

 

[EpiEMS]

I honestly couldn't tell you. I've only been to Vegas once with my dad when I was 19. It's like a 10 hour drive to get there.

We stayed at the Excalibur and the Luxor, they were cool but I'm sure there's way better places to go. The jousting show was rad though, add some booze and some friends to that and I could see it being a pretty good time.

It's a funny thing for us East Coasters to think that an in-state trip could take that long! Heck, I can get from Boston to DC in less time than that,

I don't think I have the mental reserves necessary to crack up in my library. Worn to the bonnnnneeee.....

Only 15 more hours of college class!

I'm jelly, bro. Quite jelly. Got almost three months left.

The (Soon-Ending) Quest for the Sheepskin...

 

[EpiEMS]

These are all kinda crap degrees. :glare: I suppose as long as it's free... Lol.
Any one have a suggestion?

From my perspective, as somebody who's looked into jobs in the private sector, the federal government, as well as state and local government, they really don't care so much about what your undergrad degree is in, except that you have one.
I think this is going to hold true for most jobs, especially in fields where not everybody has a a degree to begin with.

 

[MrJones]

If I were doing it purely to climb the ladder down the road, then wouldn't the Emergency Services Admin be better off than paramedicine? It seems like the BS in paramedicine would initially open the door for a position, but the Admin would be better for further down the road.
At least that's what it seems like from my perspective.
I'd never heard of the Emergency Services Admin degree, so this is what the site says

The Emergency management seems to be focused more on the logistics/ operations of MCIs and how to plan for them, recovery processes, etc.

Assuming the EMS Admin degree includes the coursework necessary to test for Paramedic certification I would recommend going the admin route. The way it's done here, the 1st 2 years are mainly focused on the coursework that would result in an AAS in paramedicine (and qualification to test for NREMT certification) if you stopped at that point, while the 2nd 2 years focuses on the coursework for the EMS Admin side of things. That way, you're set up to practice as a medic and eventually transition into management if that's the direction you decide to go.

 

[9D4]

Assuming the EMS Admin degree includes the coursework necessary to test for Paramedic certification I would recommend going the admin route. The way it's done here, the 1st 2 years are mainly focused on the coursework that would result in an AAS in paramedicine (and qualification to test for NREMT certification) if you stopped at that point, while the 2nd 2 years focuses on the coursework for the EMS Admin side of things. That way, you're set up to practice as a medic and eventually transition into management if that's the direction you decide to go.

It doesn't seem to be the same here.
I may be wrong, because I can't find a list for the coursework for the first 2 years of the admin degree. I remember my counselor showing me that it was more fire science focused, although that could've possibly been the EMS Management degree (I don't think it was).
I'll verify tomorrow about the associate degree coursework for the Admin, because that seems to be the best route to go.

 

[Wheel]

Yea you can do it in a year but having the BS will open doors down the road to you as far as vertical movement. If I could go back I'd have done my BS first then medic school, or a BS in Paramedicine.

I know where you're coming from though, I'm an instant gratification type of guy.

It doesn't seem like it now but it'll be worth the extra effort in the long run.

Agree. I'm looking at going back now for my bachelors, and trying to do it while working a rotating shift is a pain. I think I'll end up doing the paramedic bachelors through UTHSCSA (or a different one if there is one as clinically focused). I wish I had finished the bachelors first.

 

[VFlutter]

Once you get your bachelors you start getting an itch for a masters and it turns into a never ending cycle haha I can't believe I am actually considering going back after being in school for 4+ years.

On a side note, I have to take the GRE or the MCAT for admission. I am assuming I should go with the GRE?

 

[9D4]

Agree. I'm looking at going back now for my bachelors, and trying to do it while working a rotating shift is a pain. I think I'll end up doing the paramedic bachelors through UTHSCSA (or a different one if there is one as clinically focused). I wish I had finished the bachelors first.

No doubt that I'm going for a bachelors first. Just a matter of which one.
Like I said, I was going to go straight to fire science, but my uncle convinced me to get something to fall back on.
On top of that, with my lack of EMS experience, I'd rather have a bachelors to buffer my resume up, or if it works out like MrJones said, have a paramedic associates and a management bachelors.
Chase: I've already had that problem :O haha. I'm graduating from high school with my EMT-B, phlebotomy, and my CMLA certs. Taking anything and everything I can, plus my AP credits.

 

[EpiEMS]

Once you get your bachelors you start getting an itch for a masters and it turns into a never ending cycle haha I can't believe I am actually considering going back after being in school for 4+ years.

On a side note, I have to take the GRE or the MCAT for admission. I am assuming I should go with the GRE?

I'd wager you could take the GRE cold and do pretty well. Buddies of mine have done everything from taking 3 months part-time to a fully year of studying for the MCAT full time. So, GRE, yeah -- you can do solidly with less than 3 months of part-time (an hour or two a day, plus a half day one day a week) studying.

 

[Wheel]

Once you get your bachelors you start getting an itch for a masters and it turns into a never ending cycle haha I can't believe I am actually considering going back after being in school for 4+ years.

On a side note, I have to take the GRE or the MCAT for admission. I am assuming I should go with the GRE?

I've only been off a semester and I have the itch to get back to it.

 

[VFlutter]

I'd wager you could take the GRE cold and do pretty well. Buddies of mine have done everything from taking 3 months part-time to a fully year of studying for the MCAT full time. So, GRE, yeah -- you can do solidly with less than 3 months of part-time (an hour or two a day, plus a half day one day a week) studying.

Ya that is what I was thinking. I need a 40th percentile on the GRE or 25 on the MCAT

I can do only the first year and get a Post-Bacc certificate in A&P or complete the full two years and get a M.S. in Anatomical sciences.

Year 1
Semester I
ANAT-510 (5) Human Histology/Ultrastructure
ANAT-520 (2) Human Embryology
Semester II
ANAT-500 (8) Human Gross Anatomy
ANAT-530 (5) Human Systems Neurobiology
Summer
ANAT-550 (2-4) Advanced Dissections in Human Anatomy
Year 2
Semester I
PAEH-504 (4) General Physiology
ANAT-550 (2-4) Advanced Dissections in Human Anatomy
ANAT-588 (2-4) Human Anatomy Independent Study
Semester II
ANAT-550 (2-4) Advanced Dissections in Human Anatomy
ANAT-588 (2-4) Human Anatomy Independent Study
ANAT-595 (0) Special Study for Exams

 

[Hunter]

It's a funny thing for us East Coasters to think that an in-state trip could take that long! Heck, I can get from Boston to DC in less time than that

Come to south florida, takes about 10 hours to get out of the state.

 

[katgrl2003]

Come to south florida, takes about 10 hours to get out of the state.

I drove from Indianapolis to Jacksonville Florida a few years ago. I thought Georgia was never gonna end!