Why I did NOT become an EMT...

[leoemt]

Hello Community!

I became a user some (long) time ago when I was attending my EMT classes. I never became an EMT professionally.

Where I live in Colorado, the ambulance service here is AMR. They pay roughly $12/hour for the area.

I got a job as a private gardener for $18.50/hour with exceptional benefits and perks.

I completed my EMT training. I technically *am* an EMT. I carry an extensive medical kit and stop at accidents, help homeless, whatever.

But really? $12/hour?! That's a joke.

Food for thought to the community of EMS. Kudo's to all of you who do a job that should pay far more, for far less then you deserve.

Your attitude makes me sick. I for one am glad you chose not to get into EMS. Our profession doesn't need people like you.

I am an EMT and I proudly work for AMR. We start out much higher than 10 dollars.

I am not naive enough to know I won't save the world. I also know that not everyone needs an ambulance. That said if someone feels they need my services I will be the professional that I am paid to be.

So far in my young career I have done routine and mundane IFT transports, 911 calls, and even given an epi - pen to a patient in severe anaphalaxis.

I look forward to going to work everyday. I miss out on time with my family but when I come home my little girls run up and give me a huge hug. My little girls proudly tell everyone that daddy works for the ambulance. I get to put a nice roof over their heads and I only have to work 15 days a month.

I don't do this job for the money. I do it for the patients that need help. I do it for the education. But most of all, I do it because I am proud to.

I get to go to work every day feeling good about what I do. I may not save every life nor do I always get "fun" patients. I am proud of what I do.

Every hear of "help thy neighbor" not everything is about money.

Yeah, I am glad you chose to not pursue this career. You may have passed an EMT class but your not an EMT.

 

[ffemt8978]

A word of advice to all,

This thread has now attracted the attention of the Community Leaders. Keep it civil.

 

[Aidey]

A word of advice to all,

This thread has now attracted the attention of the Community Leaders. Keep it civil.

And I'm working a night shift, so don't think ya'all can get away with anything once ffemt goes to bed.

 

[Joe]

All i work are night shifts.. battle royale

Leoemt made a perfect point. The pride in this job is what makes it worth it.

 

[Aidey]

All i work are night shifts.. battle royale

Leoemt made a perfect point. The pride in this job is what makes it worth it.

Yeah, but I'm Thor and I've got a ban hammer, so I don't suggest starting a battle.

 

[Sublime]

Your attitude makes me sick. I for one am glad you chose not to get into EMS. Our profession doesn't need people like you.

What did he say that angered you so much? All he did was state that EMTs don't get paid to support a comfortable lifestyle... which most people would agree with.

I am an EMT and I proudly work for AMR. We start out much higher than 10 dollars.

That's great but where I live AMR is known to be the worst 911 service to work for because of poor management and pay. They start medics out at $13.74/hr. So maybe its a similar situation where he lives.

I do it for the education.

Wait.. what?

 

[Joe]

Buuutt i also have access to hundreds of computers and the time to make plenty of new ids.... kidding thoi have better things to do..
Now back on topic! Gardner v. Emt

 

[VFlutter]

Wait.. what?

I was about to say the same thing but I got scared by the "Ban Hammer"

 

[JPINFV]

You may have passed an EMT class but your not an EMT.

 

[Clare]

Oh good heavens $12/hr for EMT is absurdly criminal and less than minimum wage of $13.50 NZD (which is absurdly criminal!).

EMT: ~ NZD40,000
Paramedic: ~ NZD55,000
Intensive Care Paramedic: ~ NZD65,000

For the first year or so, a graduate will be EMT, then progress to Paramedic and eventually to ICP.

 

[JPINFV]

Oh good heavens $12/hr for EMT is absurdly criminal and less than minimum wage of $13.50 NZD (which is absurdly criminal!).

EMT: ~ NZD40,000
Paramedic: ~ NZD55,000
Intensive Care Paramedic: ~ NZD65,000

For the first year or so, a graduate will be EMT, then progress to Paramedic and eventually to ICP.

Let's compare education requirements, shall we?

 

[Aidey]

Actually $12 USD is more than 13.50 NZD due to the exchange rate.

 

[VFlutter]

Oh good heavens $12/hr for EMT is absurdly criminal and less than minimum wage of $13.50 NZD (which is absurdly criminal!).

EMT: ~ NZD40,000
Paramedic: ~ NZD55,000
Intensive Care Paramedic: ~ NZD65,000

For the first year or so, a graduate will be EMT, then progress to Paramedic and eventually to ICP.

Your educational standards are much higher than here in the US and therefore deserve a higher pay. EMTs earn a comparable wage to other jobs with similar training.

 

[kermit]

my opinion

Ok, I've been an EMT for two years now on an ALS truck. I do find myself more clinical than before,because we deal with a lot of human issues,often seeing the worst of situations and human behavior. I have never had a job that I have worked so hard to to make such little money, and somehow still love my job. My opinion is, you were either born to be an EMT or you weren't. I work just as hard to save a drug addict as the school teacher or banker. It's not my job to judge. "I'm in it for life" "Yours!" don't get me wrong I complain, and one of my favorite sayings is...If a Medic aint complaining ,check his pulse! This JOB is not for everyone and if your in it for money and benefits ,your probably not going to find your home here. I work lots of extra 24 hr shifts sometimes.....well too many, but it's my choice. I don't have any tattoos but I'm sure if I were ever to be skinned ,somewhere under there there's a big star of life! sometimes on those 130 mile late night transfers ,I ask my medic who is also my best friend to "remind me why I love my job again". I relate it to being a soldier ,(I'm a vet),this job is about something way bigger than me! My kids are proud of me! heck my whole family will proudly announce that I'm an EMT. when I'm at work and the boys hear a siren they announce to mom that Dad is going woo woo again!

Granted sometimes its weeks even months before I go out on, what we call a "true emergency" but that lady I got to a cath lab 30 min sooner than normal, having her BP tanked 1 mile out, is still carrying me through. heck we both cried in the middle of Wal-Mart last week when she looked me dead in the eyes and said thank you!

Go apply and work some PRN ,get your feet wet and see how you feel about it. what can it hurt? Be warned! you may get hooked and find that the purpose in your life is not money after all! BTW, I make minimum wadge 7.25 hr and so far this year I've made 26,000. I don't see all the OT being away from my family, I'm just spending time with my second family. "It's an EMS thing". Good luck my friend.

 

[MediMike]

Your attitude makes me sick. I for one am glad you chose not to get into EMS. Our profession doesn't need people like you.

I am an EMT and I proudly work for AMR. We start out much higher than 10 dollars.

I am not naive enough to know I won't save the world. I also know that not everyone needs an ambulance. That said if someone feels they need my services I will be the professional that I am paid to be.

So far in my young career I have done routine and mundane IFT transports, 911 calls, and even given an epi - pen to a patient in severe anaphalaxis.

I look forward to going to work everyday. I miss out on time with my family but when I come home my little girls run up and give me a huge hug. My little girls proudly tell everyone that daddy works for the ambulance. I get to put a nice roof over their heads and I only have to work 15 days a month.

I don't do this job for the money. I do it for the patients that need help. I do it for the education. But most of all, I do it because I am proud to.

I get to go to work every day feeling good about what I do. I may not save every life nor do I always get "fun" patients. I am proud of what I do.

Every hear of "help thy neighbor" not everything is about money.

Yeah, I am glad you chose to not pursue this career. You may have passed an EMT class but your not an EMT.

What does it take to make an "EMT"? I don't get it from your reply. You take a significant amount of pride in a job that thousands do for an underpaid wage? I see that you're in law enforcement as well, which is your major breadwinner?

I'm curious as to what makes you think this job is above and beyond others, and why you seem to imply that only a certain mindset will prove to be a successful fulfiller of the duties necessary. What exactly is it that makes this job so special?

Maybe I'm jaded by a decade of work in the field, but really it's just a job...unless anyone can argue differently?

 

[Amberlamps916]

For perspective's sake. My $11 an hour is more than my sister makes. She graduated from Yale with a degree in English and a law degree from USC school of law. She's worked at Target the last year looking for a job. My point? There are more law grads than EMTs lol. Thankful I have a job and don't want to have an ethical debate with Gilbert the Gardener.

 

[JPINFV]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCkdMqlnUhk[/youtube]


Glass houses occupants and rocks and all that jazz.

 

[Tigger]

If I might add that blindly throwing dollar values around means very little given the cost of living variances in the United States. I started at 12.50 in Boston which some in the Midwest only get to after a few years. 12.50 an hour is not survivable at a 40 hour work week in Boston, it may be on other places.

 

[djarmpit]

I think you are trying to imply that becoming an EMT means making $12 for the rest of my life. Becoming an EMT is the first step to becoming a medic, firefighter, RN, PA, etc. What all of my instructors have told me is that "being an EMT is a great way to find out whether or not the medical field is for you"

 

[Clare]

Becoming an EMT is the first step to becoming a medic, firefighter, RN, PA, etc. What all of my instructors have told me is that "being an EMT is a great way to find out whether or not the medical field is for you"

This is certainly a very strange statement and I cannot understand why they are saying such a thing?

If you want to be a Nurse, go do a BN, if you want to be a Firefighter, join the Fire Service and so on.

If you want to be an Ambulance Officer/Paramedic, become one.

If you want to find out if the medical field is for you, go become a hospital volunteer or orderly or something. One of my colleagues did some time as an orderly and decided it nursing was for him.