What else can I do?

[bunkie]

After I finish my EMT-B are there any other certs I can get while waiting on medic school?

 

[CF919]

ICS/NIMS Trainig

If you have not been through any NIMS OR ICS "incident command system" classes i would recommend everyone having them. Most of the classes can be done online with certification after the material. http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp

 

[daedalus]

Do not go after certs until you are done with your initial paramedic education. This has been said time and time again on this board, but take classes at your community college to prepare you for paramedic school.

 

[Akulahawk]

NIMS/ICS stuff is OK. Going after things like ACLS/PALS/whatever will be redundant as you'll get that stuff in medic school. Absolutely take courses that will cover things that are notoriously badly covered in medic schools...

 

[Lifeguards For Life]

Do not go after certs until you are done with your initial paramedic education. This has been said time and time again on this board, but take classes at your community college to prepare you for paramedic school.

why is that? I signed up for AMLS about a month into medic school (was not sure medic school counted as continuing education), and thought that AMLS complimented what we were learning in medic school nicely. It was a little stressfull studying for medic school and AMLS on the side, but i think the additional cert class helped.ESpecially how it focused so much on the differential field diagnosis. I'm not goint to take anymore alphabet soup courses till after my medic cert though

 

[VentMedic]

why is that? I signed up for AMLS about a month into medic school (was not sure medic school counted as continuing education), and thought that AMLS complimented what we were learning in medic school nicely. It was a little stressfull studying for medic school and AMLS on the side, but i think the additional cert class helped.ESpecially how it focused so much on the differential field diagnosis. I'm not goint to take anymore alphabet soup courses till after my medic cert though

You don't believe a couple of college level A&P classes would have been of any use before that class?

Wouldn't it have been nice to understand the medical explanations better by knowing exactly what each system involved is all about?

A quick cert with a few medical diagnoses for you to memorize in no way improves your ability to do a field diagnosis and effectively treat a patient. You just end up memorizing a few recipes rather than developing the ability to do critical thinking.

Get an education and forget the certs until after you finish your Paramedic. Concentrate on becoming a Paramedic who can be thought of as a health care professional.

 

[Lifeguards For Life]

You don't believe a couple of college level A&P classes would have been of any use before that class?

Wouldn't it have been nice to understand the medical explanations better by knowing exactly what each system involved is all about?

A quick cert with a few medical diagnoses for you to memorize in no way improves your ability to do a field diagnosis and effectively treat a patient. You just end up memorizing a few recipes rather than developing the ability to do critical thinking.

Get an education and forget the certs until after you finish your Paramedic. Concentrate on becoming a Paramedic who can be thought of as a health care professional.

I'm taking A/P right now.... kinda testy arent we vent? I think I actually understant where you are coming from though. I took EVOC this weekend, and was surprised at some of the characters that showed up, enrolled in various EMT programs.

 

[daedalus]

I'm taking A/P right now.... kinda testy arent we vent? I think I actually understant where you are coming from though. I took EVOC this weekend, and was surprised at some of the characters that showed up, enrolled in various EMT programs.

You paid or went to a stand alone EVOC class??

Every ambulance company will provide EVOC to their new hires and pay them to attend as it is part of work hours. More than that, each ambulance company will make you attend their EVOC class even if you have the cert already because it is required to be put on their insurance.

 

[Lifeguards For Life]

I paid. I have not begun applying to different Ambulance Services yet, but have noted that many require some sort of EVOC certificate before applying. You have to hold a certificate, and then qualify and test out within that particular orginization. I have heard of some schools providing EVOC with the initial EMTB training, my school was not one of them

 

[thegreypilgrim]

After I finish my EMT-B are there any other certs I can get while waiting on medic school?

Enroll in your local community college. Sign up for Intro Chemistry, Intro Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, and Medical Terminology...obviously not all at once. Split them up into something manageable over several semesters while working as an EMT; then, once you've finished all of them apply to a quality paramedic program NOT the one that will get you your license the fastest.

Aiming for Paramedic & shooting for King County Medic One

I see you're in Washington, this is good as the University of Washington's paramedic program is (from what I hear) devastatingly good. King County Medic One would be an awesome place to work too.

 

[VentMedic]

I'm taking A/P right now.... kinda testy arent we vent?

Are you taking the 2 college semester A&P with a lab or are you taking the "overview" course for Paramedics?

There is a very big difference. A lot of Paramedic students will say they are taking college A&P but don't realize their class "A&P for Paramedics" is like a comic book compared to the college level A&Ps that are prerequisites for all other health care programs.

 

[bunkie]

Enroll in your local community college. Sign up for Intro Chemistry, Intro Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, and Medical Terminology...obviously not all at once. Split them up into something manageable over several semesters while working as an EMT; then, once you've finished all of them apply to a quality paramedic program NOT the one that will get you your license the fastest.

I'm not halfassing myself through this field. This is my chosen career and I'm in it to help people. I want the highest quality education I can get my hands on so I can be a better EMT/Medic for my public.

I see you're in Washington, this is good as the University of Washington's paramedic program is (from what I hear) devastatingly good. King County Medic One would be an awesome place to work too.

I drool over udub and kings medic one gives me the head tingles.