EMT-B or CNA

[ArkansasRanger]

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Dude, chill a bit, please. That's cool you are an EMT. So am I. Nice to meet you. Anyway, EMT-B courses are generally not 30 units. I mentioned that b/c you went on about yours being "like 30 units in one semester." I figured you probably did a combined EMT-B/EMT-P associates program (or similar). Most premeds don't need an EMT-P (or even EMT-I) to get good, solid and decently-paid clinical experience (and EMT-B is more than sufficient). I was clearing that up for the OP (and anyone else who might read this thread in search of answers about doing an EMT-B as a premed) so as not to give the impression to the OP that s/he would be taking a 30-unit load in training to become an EMT-B. (I would not suggest that to anyone. It may be "doable" for some, but a full-load as a UG plus EMT-B courses would likely be risky to your GPA and not really worth the semester you might save in doing it that way.) You don't need to get all butt-hurt over this. My post was more clarification than anything else.

As for work in the hospital, both EMT-Bs and CNAs are employed in hospitals by hospitals all the time (and not just in the ED). Maybe this does not occur in your area, but you made a pretty darn sweeping statement. Last I recall, over 50% of EMT-Bs were not working in the capacity of an ambulance-based EMT-B position. Many have their EMT-B for work in other situations (e.g., camp/recreational healthcare director/manager, lifeguard manager, school nurse, ER Tech, Critical Care Tech, Mental Health Tech, event/site medical staff, etc.). CNAs are employed even moreso by hospitals. Whereas EMT-Bs are often limited to just a few units that need that level of care, CNAs are used at many hospitals in just about every unit. Granted, both CNA and EMT-B positions are quite saturated in many (if not most) job markets, but the fact that they can both work in a variety of setting is not negated by this fact.

I typed out a long reply to this, but why bother although I do want to point out that I never encouraged anyone to pursue the paramedic route. I didn't do a combined program either. I enrolled in two colleges without telling them about it. During the day I worked on a B.S. At night, 35 miles away, I worked on paramedic. Collectively, it came to about 30 hours per semester.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Dude, chill a bit, please. That's cool you are an EMT. So am I. Nice to meet you. Anyway, EMT-B courses are generally not 30 units. I mentioned that b/c you went on about yours being "like 30 units in one semester." I figured you probably did a combined EMT-B/EMT-P associates program (or similar). Most premeds don't need an EMT-P (or even EMT-I) to get good, solid and decently-paid clinical experience (and EMT-B is more than sufficient). I was clearing that up for the OP (and anyone else who might read this thread in search of answers about doing an EMT-B as a premed) so as not to give the impression to the OP that s/he would be taking a 30-unit load in training to become an EMT-B. (I would not suggest that to anyone. It may be "doable" for some, but a full-load as a UG plus EMT-B courses would likely be risky to your GPA and not really worth the semester you might save in doing it that way.) You don't need to get all butt-hurt over this. My post was more clarification than anything else.

As for work in the hospital, both EMT-Bs and CNAs are employed in hospitals by hospitals all the time (and not just in the ED). Maybe this does not occur in your area, but you made a pretty darn sweeping statement. Last I recall, over 50% of EMT-Bs were not working in the capacity of an ambulance-based EMT-B position. Many have their EMT-B for work in other situations (e.g., camp/recreational healthcare director/manager, lifeguard manager, school nurse, ER Tech, Critical Care Tech, Mental Health Tech, event/site medical staff, etc.). CNAs are employed even moreso by hospitals. Whereas EMT-Bs are often limited to just a few units that need that level of care, CNAs are used at many hospitals in just about every unit. Granted, both CNA and EMT-B positions are quite saturated in many (if not most) job markets, but the fact that they can both work in a variety of setting is not negated by this fact.

I think you missed what he was saying twice, this is exactly what Arkansasranger said

"I became an EMT and then went to paramedic school at night while I was in college working on my B.S. in something else. It was a lot of credits - like 30 in on semester."

Nowhere did he say that he took a 30 hour EMT course. He said that he was finishing his B.S. during the day while going to Paramedic School at night and it probably accumulated to 30 credits in one semester ( with both his college studies and paramedic class.)

 

[apumic]

I think you missed what he was saying twice, this is exactly what Arkansasranger said

"I became an EMT and then went to paramedic school at night while I was in college working on my B.S. in something else. It was a lot of credits - like 30 in on semester."

Nowhere did he say that he took a 30 hour EMT course. He said that he was finishing his B.S. during the day while going to Paramedic School at night and it probably accumulated to 30 credits in one semester ( with both his college studies and paramedic class.)

Depends how you read it. EMT courses alone are "a lot of credits" (for one class). Since we're talking about the EMT training itself, I read it as referring to just the EMT training, not to the full courseload. Sorry. Nevertheless, there are plenty of ways of getting around taking 30 credits at once, but congrats on pulling that off along w/ the BS!

 

[Morsetlis]

Most Paramedic courses aren't piecemeal, so you'd have to complete the entire thing in one year with an inflexible schedule. The EMT thing is about 160 hours in total which constitutes 1-2 classes. Same for CNA. However, the EMT program I went for was 6pm-10pm 4 days a week for 2 weeks, then you're done (plus the clinical).

 

[heinzmoleman]

Hey man forget what anyone else is telling you because I will tell you from experience. I have been a volunteer firefighter and a volunteer/ paid EMT for a while and honestly I have had the time of my life. The things you get to see and experience is a completely different world than that of a hospital. Pre-Hospital care is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. There is nothing you will see as a CNA that you wont get to see as a doctor. Be an EMT you will not regret it, basics don' get to do too much and that is why I decided to move up to medic but as a basic you will still get an experience you will never receive in any hospital in the world. I don't care what people say I have been here and done this personally and nothing compares to it.

 

[apumic]

Hey man forget what anyone else is telling you because I will tell you from experience. I have been a volunteer firefighter and a volunteer/ paid EMT for a while and honestly I have had the time of my life. The things you get to see and experience is a completely different world than that of a hospital. Pre-Hospital care is an experience I wouldn't trade for the world. There is nothing you will see as a CNA that you wont get to see as a doctor. Be an EMT you will not regret it, basics don' get to do too much and that is why I decided to move up to medic but as a basic you will still get an experience you will never receive in any hospital in the world. I don't care what people say I have been here and done this personally and nothing compares to it.

Congrats on "speaking from experience" because obviously the rest of us aren't... 🙄 Gotta love the people that come onto a thread and tell the OP to "forget everything everyone else said" as if what they are saying is somehow more important than what anyone else did. lol....

Yes, field experience is really interesting, although a lot depends on your area and, TBH, I found the ED MUCH more interesting and Psych FAR more interesting than the ED. Field is too much downtime for me and Fire does most of the actual medical work here. Ambulances are transport-only. I would have no desire to get my FF1 (15 units) just to do clinical work on the field! Ultimately, though, it's up to the OP. EMT-B and CNA are both good routes to go but it's best to contact local hospitals and clinics and find out where the opportunities are in your area.