Why EMS instead of MD/Nurse/Other profession?

I made some questionable life choices as a teenager, dropped out of high school, and ended up working minimum wage. Someone suggested doing some EMS training. I enjoyed it, and ended up taking my EMT. The idea of being finished in <6 months appealed to my lack of attention span and young age.

I look at RN and RT positions as being a lateral move. The pay scale is almost identical for a paramedic and RT in my region. An RN makes a little more. The thing is, I've met a handful of happy RNs. Most of the people I've interacted with seem unhappy, and would rather be doing something else (granted, there's exceptions). I've met a few paramedic / RTs, who've decided they'd rather work EMS. Maybe this is selection bias, but as interesting as respiratory therapy sounds, I can't justify it.

I'm not in the states, so PA programs aren't really an option, and a lot of the incentive to do nursing diminishes when you're somewhere that doesn't have CRNAs and has quite restricted nurse practitioner roles.

I probably should have done medical school. But the amount of time required, the hours, loss of income, and the size of the loans I'd have to take to support my family, are all strong deterrents. I've been out of EMS for a little bit, and if I hate it when I go back, I might make a run at med school. But honestly, I don't think I want it enough. I think I'd rather make less money, and spend more time with my family.
 
Im happy being a paramedic i wanted to be one since 10 i believe i did well i studied 5 years to get to be a crtical care paramedic in canada here critial paramedic make 90k and up so im happy im living my dream.
I wanted to be a paramedic because in my village where im from in cuba had only one paramedic team and they saved my life.
Sent from my phone sorry for mistakes
 
Im happy being a paramedic i wanted to be one since 10 i believe i did well i studied 5 years to get to be a crtical care paramedic in canada here critial paramedic make 90k and up so im happy im living my dream.
I wanted to be a paramedic because in my village where im from in cuba had only one paramedic team and they saved my life.
Sent from my phone sorry for mistakes....
 
Wow Cuba to Canada. Congrats.

Here's a generic answer now that we all gave our life stories. You can get into EMS and do something exciting without any college degree.
 
Wow Cuba to Canada. Congrats.
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I was about to say "Thank G-d for the Gulf Stream, eh?" :rofl:
 
VCEMT said:
Yeah, and?
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That's fair. Tough, but that's the world we live in. The question to ask, I reckon, is do you enjoy the work, and are you good at it?
 
I got into EMS after watching my Dad and stepmom work with it for most of my relevant childhood, trying it myself, and realizing that I love it. Plus it's a job where we can do something exciting without sitting through useless classes like English Lit, taking out massive loans for med school, and it doesn't involve chronic care.

Paramedic > Nursing, in terms of the 'adrenaline' rush, and I hate to say it, but the stereotypical gender role is much more masculine for EMS.
 
My chosen career is to be a veterinary technician. I run with my local fire/EMS on the side as a volunteer. They're the ones sending me to school for EMT-Basic, and I'm not one to turn away education. I have an interest in emergency medicine, but I'd rather work at a veterinary emergency hospital than a human hospital. I feel my calling is to work with animals. I find EMS rewarding, but I'm afraid that if I throw myself fully into it, I'll face burnout quickly.

I'm not saying I'll never work as an EMT. Who knows where I'll be in the future. Three years ago if someone told me I was going to be going to school to be an EMT I would have said "No way!". Now I'm toying with the idea of taking EMT-I some time down the road.
 
For some reason, injured people doesn't really get me, but injured animals (especially abused animals) do. I really don't have an emotional connection with, say, a drunk driver with horrific injuries, but a scalded dog or something chokes me up.

Mad props, Critternurse.
 
It all started for me pretty young. From about ten or so I was amazed by the bright lights, sirens, and flashy trucks. So I joined the FD when I was 14, became an EMT at 16, and started working and actively volunteering at 18. I am now 34 and EMS is really the only job I have known.

I have had a pretty fun ride overall. Sadly though I have to admit my wages as an EMT caused me to struggle most of my life and at times worked full and part-time as an EMT. Now as a Paramedic I am making ok with good benefits but pay could be a little better.

I've often had thoughts of going into a non-medical profession. I am really into information technology and networks so that may be something I pursue someday. I love my role as a Paramedic and providing the clinical care. It's all the other BS that is inherent of EMS that has caused me to become jaded over the years and has me on the edge of burn out. I have my highs and lows. Right now is a low period.. I'm pretty frustrated.

I couldn't handle working in a hospital I don't think so even if I was an RN I wouldn't subject myself to the hospital. I would still be in the field.

I love the field environment and the fringe benefits of working out of a station.
 
Ems

I worked in house as an ER Tech. I was an EMT Basic at the time. Main reason I took this position was the fact that for one, I got to do higher skills than I would as an EMT B, and two, I made more money than an EMT. The hospital group I worked for also provided street service as well, yet they paid the street guys/gals almost $2 less than I was making in house. Only reason I got out was the pay, and due to events out of my control, I no longer work in the med field. My advice is this: Look at the skills you will be using on a common basis and compare that with each profession and see if that's what you can see yourself doing 40 hrs a week for 30+ years.
 
18G said:
It all started for me pretty young. From about ten or so I was amazed by the bright lights, sirens, and flashy trucks. So I joined the FD when I was 14, became an EMT at 16, and started working and actively volunteering at 18. I am now 34 and EMS is really the only job I have known.

I have had a pretty fun ride overall. Sadly though I have to admit my wages as an EMT caused me to struggle most of my life and at times worked full and part-time as an EMT. Now as a Paramedic I am making ok with good benefits but pay could be a little better.

I've often had thoughts of going into a non-medical profession. I am really into information technology and networks so that may be something I pursue someday. I love my role as a Paramedic and providing the clinical care. It's all the other BS that is inherent of EMS that has caused me to become jaded over the years and has me on the edge of burn out. I have my highs and lows. Right now is a low period.. I'm pretty frustrated.

I couldn't handle working in a hospital I don't think so even if I was an RN I wouldn't subject myself to the hospital. I would still be in the field.

I love the field environment and the fringe benefits of working out of a station.
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Ever thought of working as a flight medic? In MN, especially Mayo One, the flight nurses/medics make pretty decent wages.
 
MNRescue said:
Ever thought of working as a flight medic? In MN, especially Mayo One, the flight nurses/medics make pretty decent wages.
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Maybe, I wouldn't comment unless you've seen the paystubs. In many cases you can make far more on the ground (I do than when I was flying anyway).
 
AngryBarryFTW said:
i chose EMT cause its fast
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Hate to say it but not the greatest reasoning...my partner is snoring, we have been on the same street corner for going on 2 hours now.

Edit: crap I shouldn't have said that, doh!
 
Thanks for all your comments, everyone.

These are some of the same reasons I've had myself, just not sure whether I'd be happy doing this full time or if going from volunteer to paid (where I'd most likely have to start out on IFTs for the first few months) would diminish some of the things I like about EMS.

Anyone have experience in "nontraditional" settings like flight nurse/medic, Park or Forest Service, or something else? I have a good friend who has worked as a Park Ranger in quite a few places, officially as an LE but he's told me some pretty interesting EMS stories as well (a rescue of a girl suffering from heat exhaustion at White Sands, which then became the rescue of her + the 3 firefighters who responded, resuscitating a near drowning victim at Sandy Hook, ropes rescue of a woman who fell at Zion, etc.)

I've been told by various people and I've gotten the impression here to some extent that EMS as a profession has limited career options... What has your experience been with advancement? Do you feel like you have options? Do you even care about advancement?
 
I'm a third generation Paramedic, plus MD is way to much school.

edit: My grandfather was a medic in WW2.
 
My dad is an MD - has co-owned a private cardiology practice in Pennsylvania for probably 20 years. He actually recommended against medical school unless I was really set on being a doctor.

And, actually, I was pre-med for about 20 minutes at Penn State. I walked into my first BIO-110 lecture though, in a full 800-person auditorium. There was a 'pre-test' that quizzed you on your existing knowledge. I'm sure the same test would be given at the end of the class, but as I sat there looking through this test and not knowing a single answer, and looking at all the hundreds of similarly exhausted students around me, I just walked out. I went back to my dorm, dropped BIO, and took Women's Studies instead. There were about 6 of us gentlemen in a class of 40-50 ladies. Best choice ever.

edit: as far as why I'm doing EMS, I've always been interested in medicine and service (eagle scout here). I volunteer as an EMT/FF (although I don't really care for suppression).
 
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