Trying to find my way...

[BFC Alameda]

Hello Party People,
I recently, and finally got hired with a transport/ cct company in northern ca. This is my first EMS job and i am excited about building a career in the field. So far i am certain that i enjoy ems enough to make it career, however i am uncertain which path to take (medic vs rn...) I plan on working on an ambulance for a while to see if i wanna go paramedic, but what i am wondering is if working as an er tech, for example, would give me a good idea of what a rn gets to do (obviously only to an extent i understand...) If this makes since, i would appreciate any helpful feedback.
Thanks

 

[CAPilot55]

Congrats!!! Ya I just got picked up as well, here in N. California. What company picked ya up?

 

[adamjh3]

Pre-hospital and in-hospital care are very, very different animals, especially here in CA.

I'd say give both a try, see what you like more, and if you decide to go Medic instead of RN, get the hell out of California.

As for right now, if you do try to get an ER tech job, be advised that you will do a LOT more actual work than in EMS, but you will likely make more money and have more resources at hand, including folks with a lot more education than you which is so invaluable in medicine. You'd be able to learn more in an ER than you will in BLS EMS.

I very seriously considered going to Nursing school and shooting for a CCT Position down the road, but the idea of having to work in-hospital for a time, up to a matter of years, before being considered for a CCT position coupled with financial/time constraints I have right now, I canned the idea. At least until I get stable as a medic on my own outside of California, then I may pursue a Nursing degree, but it's just not feasible for me right now.

TLDR: Try both pre-hospital and in-hospital jobs if you can, then make your decision. Unless you go Fire, you're not going to make enough to be comfortable here in California as a Medic unless you're working at least two jobs.

 

[DarkStarr]

I have no desire to be a nurse, and went against the advice of others and am in medic class. All's good so far. If I like it enough, and then decide I want to be a nurse, well, I didn't lose out on too much.

Right now I'd rather be working and on my way to making considerably more money at my service than being in school for 2 plus years. BUT.. one of my coworkers is going that route, and he'll ultimately come out on top, with a degree, and making more money in the hospital.

It all depends on what route you want to take and your ultimate goal in life.. and mine, is not in a hospital.