bbenoit1984
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It’s the field I wanted to get into and I might as well go all the way and become a medic
Why become a paramedic?
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Ridryder911
EMS Guru
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Think of the responses that was posted. Are these the people you want to be rendering medical care to you or your family?
The intent of why you became and what has occurred may not be the same .. but; many times it may reflect the individual you are.
This means having and possessing the drive, intillegence, motivation of performing more than general clinical skills (which in reality is very simplistic) associated with the profession.
We all have seen card carrying members in our profession and unfortunately are not able to remove them as easy as they obtain their cert/license... Hopefully, we will see an increase in litigations and decrease payment structures to ensure quality of those entering and existing programs to properly screen applicants and those that continue in the profession.
R/r 911
The intent of why you became and what has occurred may not be the same .. but; many times it may reflect the individual you are.
This means having and possessing the drive, intillegence, motivation of performing more than general clinical skills (which in reality is very simplistic) associated with the profession.
We all have seen card carrying members in our profession and unfortunately are not able to remove them as easy as they obtain their cert/license... Hopefully, we will see an increase in litigations and decrease payment structures to ensure quality of those entering and existing programs to properly screen applicants and those that continue in the profession.
R/r 911
firecoins
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a rare post.
usafmedic45
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medichopeful
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h34r:
Stat12Lead
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I did it out of feeling frustrated and not being able to provide a higher level of care. I felt, I could do more and wanted to challenge myself. It was a lot of hard work going through school and jumping through all of those hoops. In the end, all of the hard work and stress paid off. A few weeks ago ran into the parents of my first field delivery. Their daughter is now 1 and 1/2 yrs. old health and happy. Do it for the challenge and desire of being able to provide a higher level of care. If you do it for the patch on your shoulder of the increase in pay. You run the chance of burning out and becoming that crusty old grumpy medic nobody wants to work with.
Good Luck...
DrParasite
The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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You know, I have seen people go through medic school. I have seen horrible EMTs go through medic school. I have seen horrible people go through medic school. I have seem miserable EMTs go through medic school, and become miserable medics. As well as some miserable EMTs go through medic school become happy medics.
Here is why I don't want to become a paramedic:
1) the educational requirements are too low. some places require a two year degree, others just a certificate. And now people want to require higher educational requirements, but existing medics either want to be grandfathered under the old rules, or are against any changes.
2) medics can't do much. If your patient is having a cardiac or resp emergency, then yes, a medic can do a lot. in my experience, there are many calls that don' require those ALS skills. Traffic accidents, falls, abdominal pain, EDP, those are just a few of the calls that can be handled by EMTs. Contrary to the belief of many paramedics, 80% of the calls in many systems can be handled by skilled BLS providers using BLS skills (and yes, I have seen the numbers to back that statement up)
3) an all medic system is a poor use of resources. Paramedics are like trauma surgeons. They should only work on sick people, so they are extremely good and knowledgeable and experienced at dealing with sick people. Sending a dual medic unit on a report of toe pain, because a patient stubbed his toe, is not a good use of that medic's training and experience. Similarly, numerous studies show that a medic on every fire truck, ambulance, and DPW vehicle doesn't benefit patients. Yet, lots of places still want an all ALS system.
4) I want to have a family. I know many medics who work 2/3/4/5 jobs. I don't want to work so much, that I have no social life, and can't conceive my future kids, let alone see them grow up. and I don't want to have to live paycheck to paycheck, because I am choosing to only work 2 jobs.
Now before everyone jumps all over me, let me say this. I keep threatening my old mentor with going to medic school, and once I pass, will put in to be his new partner. I know I can do it, and think it would be fun. But I don't want to spend 2 years in school to have a job where I am miserable, and dread going into work every day.
I would gladly go to medic school if I could find a program that met the following conditions: I would earn 70 grand a year once I finish school (or after 3 years, when I am considered experienced), I could get a pension that would allow me to retire after 25 years, I could do a 12 hour shift, and not do more than 10 calls, where I am running back to back to back jobs, and where I could have a station to relax in when I am not on an assignment, and where I work in a system that pay for me to complete my CEU classes, as well as provides me with all the tools, equipment and uniforms needed to do my job.
I would also want a system where I could do something else besides work on an ambulance. after 15 years of doing the same thing over and over, it gets boring. maybe a lateral transfer to dispatch, special operations, administration, supervision, education, rescue operations, emergency prevention and health and wellness, something besides being on the ambulance answering 911 calls. many systems don't have this. and I would want a system where education was valued and encouraged, where I would have my agency pay my tuition to take college classes, and would help me get coverage for my shifts so I could take classes.
I'm looking to get out of EMS not because I don't like what I do, but because the system is broken. too many use EMS as a stepping stone, often for good reason. some go on to become RTs, MDs, RNs, or police or firefighters. But it is rare to find a paramedic who has been doing the job for 20 years, and still is both a good medic and not a little jaded. Not impossible just rare. Will I get out in a year, five years, ten years or twenty, I don't know yet. but I don't see myself staying in EMS full time for the rest of my life.
Here is why I don't want to become a paramedic:
1) the educational requirements are too low. some places require a two year degree, others just a certificate. And now people want to require higher educational requirements, but existing medics either want to be grandfathered under the old rules, or are against any changes.
2) medics can't do much. If your patient is having a cardiac or resp emergency, then yes, a medic can do a lot. in my experience, there are many calls that don' require those ALS skills. Traffic accidents, falls, abdominal pain, EDP, those are just a few of the calls that can be handled by EMTs. Contrary to the belief of many paramedics, 80% of the calls in many systems can be handled by skilled BLS providers using BLS skills (and yes, I have seen the numbers to back that statement up)
3) an all medic system is a poor use of resources. Paramedics are like trauma surgeons. They should only work on sick people, so they are extremely good and knowledgeable and experienced at dealing with sick people. Sending a dual medic unit on a report of toe pain, because a patient stubbed his toe, is not a good use of that medic's training and experience. Similarly, numerous studies show that a medic on every fire truck, ambulance, and DPW vehicle doesn't benefit patients. Yet, lots of places still want an all ALS system.
4) I want to have a family. I know many medics who work 2/3/4/5 jobs. I don't want to work so much, that I have no social life, and can't conceive my future kids, let alone see them grow up. and I don't want to have to live paycheck to paycheck, because I am choosing to only work 2 jobs.
Now before everyone jumps all over me, let me say this. I keep threatening my old mentor with going to medic school, and once I pass, will put in to be his new partner. I know I can do it, and think it would be fun. But I don't want to spend 2 years in school to have a job where I am miserable, and dread going into work every day.
I would gladly go to medic school if I could find a program that met the following conditions: I would earn 70 grand a year once I finish school (or after 3 years, when I am considered experienced), I could get a pension that would allow me to retire after 25 years, I could do a 12 hour shift, and not do more than 10 calls, where I am running back to back to back jobs, and where I could have a station to relax in when I am not on an assignment, and where I work in a system that pay for me to complete my CEU classes, as well as provides me with all the tools, equipment and uniforms needed to do my job.
I would also want a system where I could do something else besides work on an ambulance. after 15 years of doing the same thing over and over, it gets boring. maybe a lateral transfer to dispatch, special operations, administration, supervision, education, rescue operations, emergency prevention and health and wellness, something besides being on the ambulance answering 911 calls. many systems don't have this. and I would want a system where education was valued and encouraged, where I would have my agency pay my tuition to take college classes, and would help me get coverage for my shifts so I could take classes.
I'm looking to get out of EMS not because I don't like what I do, but because the system is broken. too many use EMS as a stepping stone, often for good reason. some go on to become RTs, MDs, RNs, or police or firefighters. But it is rare to find a paramedic who has been doing the job for 20 years, and still is both a good medic and not a little jaded. Not impossible just rare. Will I get out in a year, five years, ten years or twenty, I don't know yet. but I don't see myself staying in EMS full time for the rest of my life.