Thank you, that seems like some pretty good advice and is consistent with what I thought might be the case. While I have you here, do you have any advice regarding advanced certifications? Specifically, I have the opportunity to get certified as:
1. EMT-Intermediate
2. AHA CPR/AED Instructor
3. FEMA's CDP (Center for Domestic Preparedness) - this is a variety of class options that would be up to me, generally dealing with hazardous situations
2/3 would be free through the school's first responder program. Thoughts?
I'm a FT paramedic with 3 years experience working in a high call volume (10-18 911 calls/12 hr shift) urban area.
Get experience working as a basic before considering moving up to an "advanced" provider, which EMT-I is just that, an intermediate provider, not really "advanced. I don't know of any places that allows an EMT-I to work without a paramedic if they want to do anything more than a basic.
EMT-I's, both 85 and 99's (look up the scope of practice between the two) are being phased out with the new NREMT provider levels. If your an EMT-I, in a few years you'll either have to take a paramedic course and go up to a paramedic level, or you'll be bumped down to an emt-basic (which will be called just EMT).
I wouldn't mess around at the intermediate level, you get some basic procedures and understanding. I've worked with 1 or 2 intermediates, but they can't tech calls at all where I work. I think they can do some basic cardiac monitoring, and give the first round of ACLS drugs. They can't intubated where I work though, and the only IV drugs they can give is d50, and narcan - everything else they have to call for orders or ask the paramedic (technically).
If you really enjoy being in EMS, go up to the paramedic level. The truth is in all the areas that I've worked, intermediates don't get any more respect than a basic, and the pay raise is 30 cents an hour more from a basic. So basics make 16.50/hr, intermediates make 16.80/hr, and paramedics make 24/hr, so not a big jump financially for the amount of time it takes to become an intermediate.
Hey guys,
I just got my NREMT-B certification over the summer. I currently work as a first responder for my school, but our standards of patient care limit us to working as first responders (not even EMTs) - i.e. we don't give out medications, transport only stable patients, etc.
Granted, we still do very similar stuff to working for the local county or similar service (I don't want to over-exagerate there is still plenty of patient contact, decision making, and serious situations). Do you guys think it would be beneficial to work for the county EMS instead of the school program (possibly in addition to?). The school is much more flexible to my school schedule, but I'm worried I'm not gaining the full experience of working as an emergency responder.
Thanks in advanced.
Is the county EMS service an ALS service? I doubt you'll get much quality experience working at a first aid level. I'd work for the ALS service, because you'll get to see and be a part of the "team", more than just people on scene when they arrive.
See about volunteering for the county service part time, or working there prn.
The EMT-I class total (including personal expenses and certification exam) would be approximately $400-500. Personally, I think paramedic might be a little too time intensive. Correct me if I'm wrong but EMT-I is approx. 6-10 week fast-track course and paramedic is 6 months minimum?
That being said, I don't think paramedic is a very good investment, unless I was able to maintain a part-time job throughout medical school (which I do not think is very likely). By the time I was done training and certified I would not have much time to work and use that certification.
Like I mentioned above, 2 & 3 are both paid for by the program (including personal expenses).
I wouldn't want any paramedic to tech me if they got their patch in 6 months. Most decent programs are 1.5-2 years long. There are "medic mills" out there that just get people their patch, and nothing more, but even they take longer than 6 months. Texas has some new requirements for paramedic programs that are making them over a 1000 hours, which would take a year at the least. EMT-Intermediate is usually 6 months long.
Exactly. Becoming a medic is a full-time career path. It's not really worth it if you're just looking for more patient contact/medical experience as a pre-med.
OP if you want to get more experience go ahead and try for a county gig.
Becoming EMT-I might be worth your time as long as there are job(s) available in the area, the pay is better than basic, and the scope of practice allows you to do more (some places you're just a glorified basic plus NS IVs). If you really like EMS and can squeeze the class in a semester, $400 isn't too bad.
Honestly, 2 and 3 are more fluff certs and don't really give you any useful knowledge or experience beyond the EMT-B level (which is prob why they're free). But, if you have the time and want to teach CPR then why not?
If your an CPR instructor, you can make some cash on the side doing that, but I agree it's mostly just fluff. People are hesitant to hire intermediates because they are being phased out, and the pay increase is horrible for the amount of time it takes to get an intermediate. Like I said above, basics get paid 16.50/hr, intermediates get 16.80/hr, and paramedics get 24/hr.
If you like working in EMS, go to the paramedic level. But don't do it as a pre-med activity. Because by the time your done with P school, you could have been applying to medical school.
