EMT Job Opportunities???

[confewshz]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey all,

I am seriously considering taking a semester course to get EMT certified. I would like to do this to gain clinical exposure, and am wondering what types of jobs I could apply for with an EMT certification? Thanks in advance.

 

[JayMiranti]

Im an EMT, it was easy to get a job as soon as I got certified. I made about 14 bux an hour, and the work is great, its much different from what they teach in the course.

If you plan to work in a different state than where you are taking the course, be sure that your certification will transfer across state lines. Most times this is not a problem but sometimes it is.

I felt like it was especially easy finding a job since I was a college student. Most EMTs are great people, but not the most educated or polished, so any college student is a shoe-in for a good EMT job.

Good luck

 

[JayMiranti]

Let me do a better job to answer your question.

What kinds of jobs can you get?

YOu can volunteer with a local ambulance service as an EMT attending, which means you ride in the back and treat patients, often with help from a partner or paramedic.

You can be paid to do the same thing for a private service, or a service serving a big city.

You can become an ER tech with some minor additional training. ER techs work in ERs, obviously, taking vital signs, hooking up EKGs, drawing blood, etc...

BUT, to be an ER tech you usually have to committ to lots of hours and more than a year of work.

YOu can also be a night watchman,, I hear.

And in the end, I think all of these jobs pay nearly the same.

Great experience , nothing like it.

 

[confewshz]

JayMiranti, thanks for the reply. I really appreciate it 🙂

 

[ChiaPet312]

jay...what do you have to do to get certified? n' how do you go about doing it?

 

[JayMiranti]

most colleges offer a certification course.

I took my course at my local EMS, but i had to pay for it of course.

The course is very easy, if you are a premed, you will definitely pass with flying colors.

It entails learning some BASIC terms and organ functions, passing a written and practical test. Both are pretty straight forward and easy.

Then once you rae done with the course you pretty much learn on the job from people around you.

Good luck

 

[confewshz]

Hey Jay,

Are the work hours fairly flexible? Also, if you work in an ambulance, is it so busy that you are confined to the ambulance all day?

 

[JayMiranti]

The work hours are pretty standard, they look for part timers and full timers, so as many hours as you want to put in.

I have worked for a company that is so busy you never leave the ambulance, but most of the time there is a headquarters that has a TV and kitchen that you are dispatched from. SO you only go in the ambulance going to and from the hospital.

Each emergency takes about an hour to get settled, after doing paperwork and seeing that the patient is in the hospital room OK.

SOmetimes the work is real slow, no emergencies, sometimes you never leave the ambulance. This is how emergency work is.

 

[BklynWill]

Benefits of becoming an EMT:
- Excellent opportunity to learn and practice patient care skills.
- You will meet all of the local ER nurses and docs, improving your chance of working in an ER in the future.
- You will see people at the worst point of their lives and have a chance to make a measurable difference.
- Ever see a gun-shot wound or pull someone out of a car wreck before?
- You get a cute pin if you help deliver a baby.
- You can earn ~7 college credits for the EMT course (varies)
- It feels great to be part of an organization.
- Discounts at food stores.
- You can get a special license plate.
- Depending on the organization, scheduling can be very flexible.
- And the greatest benefit will be the wealth of stories you have to tell during an interview.

Disadvantages:
- The course is very intensive for a certification.
- You have to lift a lot and EMTs are prone to back injuries.
- You have to avoid internal organization politics.

I know working as an EMT was a key factor in my admission to med school. I highly recommend exploring this idea.
Good luck!

 

[JayMiranti]

I would not call my course intense at all, it was very simple and easy, one semester about in length, but im sure that each course is different. A 70 passed for us, and if we failed the practicals we had another chance, it was minimal pressure and effort, you just have to show up at class.

The last point is definitely true, avoid organazational politics, as with anything.

 

[robotdancing]

finding work as a newly certified emt can be rough. i'm glad i got my certification, if only for the cool emt-b/p's i met on my ride-alongs, and i don't offer this in an attempt to dissuade you from getting yours, but don't assume that you'll automatically find work as an emt... even in a volunteer capacity.

that being said, on the bright side, the course and subsequent certification exams are a breeze.

 

[confewshz]

BklynWill and JayMiranti, can you give examples of the types of "internal organization politics" to avoid?

 

[BklynWill]

politics... politics...

It has been my experience in a volunteer organization that there are some people who's lives revolve around the organization. This level of committment can be positive up to a point. However, people tend to date each other... some EMTs are very critical about other EMTs' skills... some organizations do not get along well with others... and news travels very quickly. This can create dissention, rumors, and an unpleasant work environment. My advice would be to not get involved in this sort of behavior. Do the job when you are on duty and forget about it when you go home. Don't make it part of your life.

 

[Speedy]

I only have to volunteer a minimum of 36 hours a month. For me, that is easily a Friday night (14 hours) and one entire Saturday (24 hours). Just two days out of the month and I have 38 hours! Also, I stay out of the politics by not hanging around the station with all the other goobers when I am not on duty. Just show up for work and do my job.