What made you join EMS?

[Shishkabob]

I wanted to be a cop.

 

[firetender]

That's okay. 80% of dentists either couldn't get in to medical school, or dropped it.

 

[EMT_TIFFANY]

I saw a 9 year old girl get hit by a car in front of my house (i live right next to the elementary school). The hardest part at the time was I wanted to help this little girl so bad but I didn't know what to do, it helped me strive to become an EMT. Now that I'm an EMT I know I can confidently handle an emergency situation.

 

[SanDiegoEmt7]

Don't know about you guys, I'm in it for the money

If you do get in with a good 3rd service, couty or city or with a FD, the money and benefits are very good. I think that 46young has discussed endlessly about the money and retirement plan he has all with very little education required for entry. Some might think that 6 months of training to get those perks is a pretty sweet deal.

I believe Veneficus is a fourth year in Medical School? am I correct? In which case he will be rolling in the money less any loans that may exist, and with quite a bit more than 6 months of training.

 

[VentMedic]

I believe Veneficus is a fourth year in Medical School? am I correct? In which case he will be rolling in the money less any loans that may exist, and with quite a bit more than 6 months of training.

I made more than most of our Hospitalists last year. It is not that difficult to make 6 digits in health care if you are flexible and have a decent education. A lot of doctors and surgeons are also closing their offices in search of alternative practices especially in California.

Recent article for those of you who are considering becoming an RN.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/11/news/economy/health_care_doctor_incomes/index.htm?eref=aol

examples:

Nurse

California
http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=0766

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=9121

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?titletext=nurse&tier1=1&tier2=2&Perb=&subFOC=

Miami
http://um.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=1851863&user_id=&ViewAll=

Physician
http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=0771

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/st...letext=physician&tier1=1&tier2=2&Perb=&subFOC=

 

[SanDiegoEmt7]

I made more than most of our Hospitalists last year. It is not that difficult to make 6 digits in health care if you are flexible and have a decent education. A lot of doctors and surgeons are also closing their offices in search of alternative practices especially in California.

Recent article for those of you who are considering becoming an RN.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/11/news/economy/health_care_doctor_incomes/index.htm?eref=aol

examples:

Nurse

California
http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=0766

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=9121

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?titletext=nurse&tier1=1&tier2=2&Perb=&subFOC=

Miami
http://um.hodesiq.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=1851863&user_id=&ViewAll=

Physician
http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/staffing/tpp_detail?tc=0771

http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/st...letext=physician&tier1=1&tier2=2&Perb=&subFOC=

I only read the first link. A nurse anesthetist may make 190K a year (which is more than a family doc) but what is the average salary for an anesthesiologist?

Link here: anesthesiologist salary

Average nurse salary: 60-100k a year, specializing is obviously higher. Typical doctor salary in the lowest paid fields (family practice): 190K a year. Doctor's in specializing fields can make 300-400K a year and up. A starting doctor in a general field like Emergency Medicine which isn't even considered that lucrative starts at over 200K a year.

And a lot of those salaries include medical malpractice being covered by the hospital you work for.

You have also been in the field for a while I presume, and have some advanced training beyond the typical RN/RT.


EDIT: also all of the jobs that you are quoting in SF aren't typical national averages, San Francisco has one of the highest costs of living in the country, much of that salary is offset by that (Good ole RidRyder911 use to say that over and over again). Medic/FFs in the Bay area start at 90K a year which matches the job links you posted. Also it is important to look at the amount of time that a cRNA has to put into that degree a BSN and a Master's. If you look at the earnings of PA-C's they can be equally as high, especially if they work for doctor's in private practices.

 

[VentMedic]

I only read the first link. A nurse anesthetist may make 190K a year (which is more than a family doc) but what is the average salary for an anesthesiologist?

anesthesiologist salary

Average nurse salary: 60-100k a year, specializing is obviously higher. Lowest average doctor salary: 190K a year. Doctor's in specializing fields can make 300-400K a year and up. A starting doctor in a general field like Emergency Medicine which isn't even considered that lucrative starts at over 200K a year.

And a lot of those salaries include medical malpractice being covered by the hospital you work for.

You have also been in the field for a while I presume, and have some advanced training beyond the typical RN/RT.

Salary.com is not the most reliable especially if you look at the differences in EMS wages.

I posted links from both coasts for Physician and RN in actual employment situations. You can also find the salaries for just about any healthcare professional at those sites.

In Northern CA, a new grad RN starts at about $50/hour with the ICU RN making about $65 with benefits. In Miami the wages are not that high but still decent for hours worked since most do a 36 hour week and make a good payday.

When comparing salaries with physicians, you also have to take into consideration as to who is paying their insurance. If they must provide their own insurance, $250K is not good. That is one reason why I almost considered becoming a Perfusionist and then decided against it. $125K isn't much if I have to provide my own insurance.

 

[VentMedic]

EDIT: also all of the jobs that you are quoting in SF aren't typical national averages, San Francisco has one of the highest costs of living in the country, much of that salary is offset by that (Good ole RidRyder911 use to say that over and over again). Medic/FFs in the Bay area start at 90K a year which matches the job links you posted.

Did you not notice both coasts represented which includes Miami?

However for comparision between Physicians and nurses, the UCSF site represents that.

I only read the first link.

If you only read one small part of a lengthy post and then try to get into an argument, are you really presenting yourself well in a discussion or debate?

 

[SanDiegoEmt7]

Salary.com is not the most reliable especially if you look at the differences in EMS wages.

I posted links from both coasts for Physician and RN in actual employment situations. You can also find the salaries for just about any healthcare professional at those sites.

In Northern CA, a new grad RN starts at about $50/hour with the ICU RN making about $65 with benefits. In Miami the wages are not that high but still decent for hours worked since most do a 36 hour week and make a good payday.

When comparing salaries with physicians, you also have to take into consideration as to who is paying their insurance. If they must provide their own insurance, $250K is not good. That is one reason why I almost considered becoming a Perfusionist and then decided against it. $125K isn't much if I have to provide my own insurance.

The east coast earnings were significantly lower, by ~60-80k. Salary websites aren't reliable but doctors do typically earn 200k-400k working in hospitals (where malpractice is covered) Doctors working outside of hospitals can make significantly more than that. Ophthalmologists, cardio-thoracic surgeons, neurosurgeons (neurosurgeon is to family practice, as cRNA is to med-surg nurse) can make well over half a million a year, depending on how much they want to work.

But I see what you are trying to get at. For a cRNA who only had take 6 years of school, and most likely was able to work while doing their master's, 200k a year is a sweet gig. Especially when you look at the 9-15 years it takes for a doctor.

 

[VentMedic]

While I know some get upset when they hear about EMS being a setting stone but some should keep an open mind. That is why I attempted to point out what other professions do such as in the nursing home discussion. You would be surprised at how many hospital professionals started as EMTs while working their way through college. That is how I got my start. I then paid attention on every "routine" IFT at what other professionals did in the hospital because I just enjoyed every aspect of medicine. That included talking to PTs and OTs at the rehab centers, RRTs at the HBO centers, PFT labs, LTCs and ICUs/ED as well as when we did their Specialty transports. I also chatted with the RTs (Radiology) when we took patients for various diagnostics.

I had one Paramedic partner who was a serious bodybuilder in the early 80s. All it took was one look inside an advanced PT gym and he spent the next 6 years becoming a Physical Therapist. He is now head of a department with a DPT (and Ph.D.) and is still inspired by the work he does everyday.

EMS can be a great profession if you find the right service but unfortunately it can be limiting in some areas. Some do get hungry for more and they should take advantage of every opportunity. If they want more in EMS, they should consider advancing into CCT, Flight, DMT or HBO. However, they should approach it more than just obtaining a couple of extra certs to do the additional responsibilities just. Some may want to teach and they should start a trend of being an educated educator rather than just doing the minimum to instruct. They can also get advanced education to lead in research projects by collaborating with teaching hospitals. Because educated role models are not readily visible in the EMT(P) schools or in the profession, some burn out before they can discover all the opportunities they have to advance their careers for the long run and keep their interest in medicine alive.

 

[TransportJockey]

Vent, HBO and DMT are two acronyms I'm not quite getting... what do they stand for?

 

[VentMedic]

Vent, HBO and DMT are two acronyms I'm not quite getting... what do they stand for?

Here's a link for CHT, DMT and CHRN...gotta love the alphabet.

http://www.nbdhmt.org/index.asp

 

[MSDeltaFlt]

Got into EMS from Resp to get into flight. Guess I succeeded.

 

[Sasha]

There's a waitlist for nursing schools

Plus one.

 

[MTEMTB]

At age 8 I saw 2 different fatal car accidents. I just had the instinct to help.
I still run towards injuried people rather then away.

Took me 5 years to get into a class. A guy I knew was getting signed up and I did too.
Been in for 9 years and I am the pt from heck at scenerios.
Will have tell some of those stories latter on.

 

[NepoZnati]

I guess for me would be the instinct to stand up and help, mixed with inspiring sight of 2 tiny nurses running toward tanks to help fallen or under sniper fire to help those pinned down, or even foreigners coming from places I never saw or heard to help fellow man... Simply put, I wanted to give back and to help. :blush:

 

[ajax]

I have asthma, and had one nasty paramedic visit when i was 17. I didn't think anything of it, except that he was a jerk.

I also have type 1 diabetes, and was arrested last summer for "disorderly intoxication," although i was actually hypoglycemic. Though I was wearing medical ID, the arresting officers cuffed me and kept me overnight in a cell, where i had a seizure. EMTs were called for me at one point, and they cleared me.

Both of these experiences got me thinking about how important it is to have advocates for patients, especially when they're not A+Ox4 (i was not, either time.). I know I can be a good advocate!

 

[Liya]

Just wanted to see what's inside the people Joke. I want to help, and not only when working but also in daily life. Also people on this forum helped me to decide and go for it.

 

[atropine]

i got into ems, because where else can you make 120k without a four year degree.

 

[EMSBLONDIE24]

Well, if the elastic-band pants, yellow shirts, big boots and equipment belt weren't enough to attract me.... Haha, the adrenaline rush, true feeling of family on my crew, and honestly, I just like being there for someone and helping in anyway I can.
And the lights and sirens. Obviously.