EMt-B worth it?

[Sainttpk]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello folks

So a quick question here for everyone on this board.

I am a second year law student, who had decided to switch from law to medicine. Between my second and 3rd year of law school I was planning on getting an EMT-B certificate. (during the summer)

Do you think this is worth it? I was thinking it would be a good way to get some medical experince before applying to medical school. I have looked at many volunteering oppurtunities, but I do not see anything that really gives you good experince. Just sitting in a hospital passing out flowers does not seem to be very ideal.... Plus I figure that it would be nice to be able to make some money that is medically related before I apply, since I have not finished my prereqs yet.

there is no way in hell I want to practice law when I graduate, I am not even taking the bar exam

If I get EMT-B certificate in one state, will I be able to use it in another state?

Your answers are appreciated =)

 

[UNE2009LMD]

Hello folks

So a quick question here for everyone on this board.

I am a second year law student, who had decided to switch from law to medicine. Between my second and 3rd year of law school I was planning on getting an EMT-B certificate. (during the summer)

Do you think this is worth it? I was thinking it would be a good way to get some medical experince before applying to medical school. I have looked at many volunteering oppurtunities, but I do not see anything that really gives you good experince. Just sitting in a hospital passing out flowers does not seem to be very ideal.... Plus I figure that it would be nice to be able to make some money that is medically related before I apply, since I have not finished my prereqs yet.

there is no way in hell I want to practice law when I graduate, I am not even taking the bar exam

If I get EMT-B certificate in one state, will I be able to use it in another state?

Your answers are appreciated =)

I was an EMT-B and received my certificate while in college. It's only worth it if you're really planning on being a full-time EMT as part of your town's EMS. I was part of my college EMS but that really didn't do much for me since the emergencies were more of "needing a band-aid" than anything else. So go for it if you're planning on getting a full-time job w/ it. It will give you great experience in medicine. Taking the written and an entire day-practical is fun too,I have to admit. Why? well, it's so clinically-oriented, it's the closest to patient-interaction as a non-medical student you can get.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Hello folks

So a quick question here for everyone on this board.

I am a second year law student, who had decided to switch from law to medicine. Between my second and 3rd year of law school I was planning on getting an EMT-B certificate. (during the summer)

Do you think this is worth it? I was thinking it would be a good way to get some medical experince before applying to medical school. I have looked at many volunteering oppurtunities, but I do not see anything that really gives you good experince. Just sitting in a hospital passing out flowers does not seem to be very ideal.... Plus I figure that it would be nice to be able to make some money that is medically related before I apply, since I have not finished my prereqs yet.

there is no way in hell I want to practice law when I graduate, I am not even taking the bar exam

If I get EMT-B certificate in one state, will I be able to use it in another state?

Your answers are appreciated =)

If you use it in a volunteer or part time paid job, then it is very worth it. My experiences were highly discussed at my medical school interviews. It will also help you in being much more comfortable with patients early on.

 

[WestcoastMedicine]

Most states had their own certifying exam. They are all currently switching to a national standardized exam, which if you pass, you will be certified in all the states accepted it. Also, if the state does not currently give the national text, they will most likely give you reciprocity for having another states license. I decided to go into medicine as a result of being an EMT, I am not sure if they will look favorably about getting your EMT to learn more about medicine since you have very minimal interaction with physicians and thus will not learn much abuot a physician's role.

 

[Freakingzooming]

yo.

I'm a National Registered EMT-B working right now at an Trauma Center as a ED technician.

1st to answer your question: Yes, you can be certified in almost every state by taking the National Registry exam. It's offered at different times at different states. But I suggest you look up your department of public health and look up test sites. It's a harder test than the state test I took in Illinois and California so it'll require more studying.

2nd: Yes, absolutely, I think my EMT experience has been so amazing. Working as a tech right now, I've learned everything a med student would in terms of clinicals- splinting, drawing blood, trying suturing, ivs...

3rd: most EMTs end up either doing transporting via ambulance, work with paramedics on ambulances, or work in an Emergency department as technicians.

PM me if you have anymore questions. Be happy to answer any. Also, there's a Pre-EMS forum on studentdoctor.net

 

[medic170]

Seems like everyone else has answered your questions, so all I have to say is it is definatley worth it. They say "paramedics save lives, and emt's save paramedics". It is so true!

 

[my alias]

it's completely worth it. i don't think i'd be in med school right now if it weren't for the opportunities working as an emt B gave me.

 

[eadysx]

Hello folks

So a quick question here for everyone on this board.

I am a second year law student, who had decided to switch from law to medicine. Between my second and 3rd year of law school I was planning on getting an EMT-B certificate. (during the summer)

Do you think this is worth it? I was thinking it would be a good way to get some medical experince before applying to medical school. I have looked at many volunteering oppurtunities, but I do not see anything that really gives you good experince. Just sitting in a hospital passing out flowers does not seem to be very ideal.... Plus I figure that it would be nice to be able to make some money that is medically related before I apply, since I have not finished my prereqs yet.

there is no way in hell I want to practice law when I graduate, I am not even taking the bar exam

If I get EMT-B certificate in one state, will I be able to use it in another state?

Your answers are appreciated =)

Well, let me play the other side of the coin here. I was in EMS many years before I got into school. I would say that if you are ready to apply to medical school now, i.e. you have all the required classes and MCAT out of the way, than no, it not worth it as a way to get patient contact. I say that because the EMT course in most states requires only 10hrs of pt contact to sit for the test, the rest is class room time. If you have a year or so between now and when you will apply than go for it. Get you EMT-B, join a rescue squad, ride the truck and have a good time. My time in EMS was some of the best times of my life. If you are applying soon, I say join a rescue squad but don’t mess with the class, just have fun on calls. Or volunteer at a hospital, or whatever.

Just MHO.

E-

 

[Febrifuge]

...Working as a tech right now, I've learned everything a med student would in terms of clinicals- splinting, drawing blood, trying suturing, ivs...

I'm jealous! Where do you work, beeyotch? 😉 I too am an EMT-B and chose work as a tech, but we have so many visiting students and off-service residents around that -- even if it were not totally against hospital policy -- I would never be able to get in on IVs or suturing. I've done nearly everything else, though.

To the OP: As a way to see if medicine is for you, EMT is a good window to experience, and interesting stories. And (not that this applies to you, I don't know, but just in case) as a thing to do because it might make your application look better... ehhh. Don't bother. You won't have fun, and you won't be fun to work with.

 

[mastamark]

Most states had their own certifying exam. They are all currently switching to a national standardized exam, which if you pass, you will be certified in all the states accepted it. Also, if the state does not currently give the national text, they will most likely give you reciprocity for having another states license. I decided to go into medicine as a result of being an EMT, I am not sure if they will look favorably about getting your EMT to learn more about medicine since you have very minimal interaction with physicians and thus will not learn much abuot a physician's role.

I am an EMT-P and deciding to go to med school. EMTs have a wonderful opportunity to interact with a physician if working as an emergency room tech; where you will draw blood take vitals and even participate in codes. As for the reciprocity there are only a few states that do this, national registry has been around a long time, it is just a problem since some states dont allow Emts to do the things that they would do in another. 🙂

 

[Freakingzooming]

I'm jealous! Where do you work, beeyotch? 😉 I too am an EMT-B and chose work as a tech, but we have so many visiting students and off-service residents around that -- even if it were not totally against hospital policy -- I would never be able to get in on IVs or suturing. I've done nearly everything else, though.

To the OP: As a way to see if medicine is for you, EMT is a good window to experience, and interesting stories. And (not that this applies to you, I don't know, but just in case) as a thing to do because it might make your application look better... ehhh. Don't bother. You won't have fun, and you won't be fun to work with.

I work at St. Francis- Evanston, IL. It's a level 1 trauma center. we're actually hard pressed for help. We always seem to be short of nurses all the time so I get a lot of first hand exposure and opp to help out. i would just say find an overworked trauma center anywhere near an inner city neighborhood and you'll have plenty opportunities to help out.

It's amazing to me how at some times we have more residents than nurses. We usually have other nurses in floating from other wings of the hospital helping out.

 

[ParamedicDO]

I am going to put my 2 cents in here (btw there is a pre-md threat that is asking the same question - check that out).

I have been in ems for 10 yrs now and a paramedic for almost 5. I can say that becoming an EMT was a very easy way to gain an appreciation for medicine. EMS can become addictive in a way. There is a dicotomy: You gain great experience, but the independence is addictive. I wanted to become a paramedic while in college because I was bored basically. My grades suffered slightly, and as a result of this and a combination of other factors related directly to becoming a paramedic, I pushed off applying to medical school. In retrospect that was a bad move.

In summary, become an EMT, but dont get caught up in it. Keep focused on your goal. It's definately a good time.

Many states have agreements to offer reciprocity. You have to check with the states EMS governing body to see how that works.

Peace