EMT or Scribe?

[TF1031]

Hi guys, I have been an EMT for about 3 and a half years now and I was just wondering if it would be worth it for going with a scribe job now? I'm a junior in college and most likely applying this upcoming cycle. I was just wondering if this would make any significant difference in my upcoming application? Thanks guys!

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[pillowsnice]

Have you been working/ volunteering as an EMT or just have the license?

 

[Sader87]

I currently work as a Scribe and also went to EMT school (never worked as an EMT). EMT is great to have actual patient contact and learn solid clinical skills. Scribing is great because you get paid to shadow ED physicians for thousands of hours (although not very much). I found huge value in having direct access to physicians who I can bounce questions off of. I think both will be looked upon fondly by an ADCOM. It just depends on what kind of experience you hope to gain before entering medical school.

 

[njtrimed]

Do you like working as an EMT? Personally, I wouldn't give up a job that I enjoy and gives me the opportunity to work with patients to pursue scribing, but that's just me.

 

[Styrene]

Hi guys, I have been an EMT for about 3 and a half years now and I was just wondering if it would be worth it for going with a scribe job now? I'm a junior in college and most likely applying this upcoming cycle. I was just wondering if this would make any significant difference in my upcoming application? Thanks guys!

It depends on what you're looking for. If you want to try something new and enjoy learning new skills in a fast-paced environment, then scribing might be good if you want a change from being an EMT for the past 3.5 years. Scribing is a great job if you enjoy typing, love the English language and medical terminology, want to learn what a physician of the sort for whom you would scribe does while on the job, and enjoy sitting at a computer for long hours. If scribing in the ED, you should also have a passion for a very fast and sometimes stressful work environment. My job as an ER scribe is solid, nonstop work for the entire duration of the shift about 95% of the time. I get there, sit at the computer, and don't stop actively working with full concentration for the next 12 hours.

 

[TF1031]

Thanks guys for the replies, I have been working as an EMT for numerous townships and I do love it and it's something I want to continuously do but I was just wondering if I should also go for scribing. Just because I know I will be adding another part time job to my plate so I was just wondering if it is worth the time investment

 

[carpediem22]

Thanks guys for the replies, I have been working as an EMT for numerous townships and I do love it and it's something I want to continuously do but I was just wondering if I should also go for scribing. Just because I know I will be adding another part time job to my plate so I was just wondering if it is worth the time investment

Whether you choose to scribe or not depends on whether you A) need the money or B) really want to get the experience of following a doc around for yourself. Either way, it won't make or break your application. I personally loved the time I spent following an ER doc around and learned a lot from it. But scribing on top of EMT won't make you stand out from the other thousands of EMTs and scribes, so if it is between that and something like really unique research, another unique EC, (or academics!), and you are only doing it for the application boost, I wouldn't.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

Depends on lots of things. There are some EMT companies that only do transfers/transports and do very little field work. Also, depending on where you live, the calls you get may not be as critical as what you see in the ER. Having the patient contact is important, but FWIW, I was able to talk more about the state of healthcare, chronic problems, ect from working in the ER as a scribe and I'm not entirely sure how much of that you would obtain from being an EMT. I have fellow friends who are EMT's right now who wish they pursued scribing rather than EMT. But once again, YMMV.

 

[Tenk]

Become a scribe. It gives you a pretty significant advantage in your clinical years. Slightly more than being an EMT. Get the best of both worlds.

 

[frosted_flake]

Become a scribe. It gives you a pretty significant advantage in your clinical years. Slightly more than being an EMT. Get the best of both worlds.

Hi @Tenk do you think it gives an advantage from the documentation side or the hands-on clinical skills since they have likely seen things performed so many times? Or a bit of both?

 

[Tabiyou]

Hey there. I have actually been a charge EMT for 2 years and an ED scribe for 1 year. I would really recommend you go for the scribe position. You get to see the hospital staff dynamics, good and bad examples of emergency medicine, and have tons of experiences for interviews/essays. In my interviews, I referenced scribing more than I did EMT.

 

[SnakeDoc9497]

I'd say stick with EMT since you have the training and have been at it a number of years. Jumping into a scribe position (disregarding any benefits in clinical knowledge) may seem like you're just doing it because it's a common EC for med school. EMT has been your job for 3 years, like you said. I know a few friends who sort of took a scribe job on a whim and ended up hating it. I'm sure that depends on a number of factors, too, so your experience may be different.

I think it's better to stick with something you've been at for a while, but that is just me. Jumping around and doing 15 things a little bit is a whole lot worse from an admissions standpoint than doing 5 things for a long time where you really refined a skill or learn a job...at least that's what I have always been told.

 

[Tenk]

Hi @Tenk do you think it gives an advantage from the documentation side or the hands-on clinical skills since they have likely seen things performed so many times? Or a bit of both?

I've worked with scribes in residency and as an attending. I know several that have gone to med school and some that I even had hang out with me in the ER as students, so I am pretty well versed from both a community and academic setting on the matter. I also know a ton of EMTs and medics and work with them every day.

Scribes:

1) They learn the lingo fast.

2) They learn to identify sick vs not sick.

3) They learn how to chart. This alone is priceless.

4) They learn how to talk and interact with staff and patients. This makes the transition to third year a lot easier.

5) They get exposed to a huge amount of medicine so they can already sort out what they like and don't like.

6) Amazing letters of recommendation.

These skills are impressive to an attending or resident, especially if you don't brag about being a former scribe. Be humble and you'll look awesome.

EMTs:

1) Also learn the lingo but at a slower rate because they are charting less and seeing less patients.

2) Also learn to identify sick vs not sick but don't have an attending by them to tell them: this person is sick. This person is pseudoseizures. They again also see a lot less patients. Their acuity is also higher on average so they probably see a lot more sick than not sick. You can argue this either way as good or bad.

3) They don't learn how to chart like a physician.

4) They learn how to talk and interact with staff and patients probably better than scribes.

5) They get exposed to the prehospital world. They learn to start IVs, manage airways by means other than intubation, run IV fluids, learn about cardiac monitoring and other useful life saving interventions depending on state and level (ie basic, intermediate, advanced). You will not be able to push drugs and intubate like a paramedic but if you run with a medic they may teach you these skills.

Overall, EMTs are more hands on experience with medicine while scribes are more educational. Most attendings LOVE scribes, especially ones interested in medicine, so you learn a lot working directly with the doctor.

For anyone interested in EM, both are priceless. If there is one thing I would have done differently in college it would have been to become a scribe and an EMT.

 

[frosted_flake]

I've worked with scribes in residency and as an attending. I know several that have gone to med school and some that I even had hang out with me in the ER as students, so I am pretty well versed from both a community and academic setting on the matter. I also know a ton of EMTs and medics and work with them every day.

Scribes:

1) They learn the lingo fast.

2) They learn to identify sick vs not sick.

3) They learn how to chart. This alone is priceless.

4) They learn how to talk and interact with staff and patients. This makes the transition to third year a lot easier.

5) They get exposed to a huge amount of medicine so they can already sort out what they like and don't like.

6) Amazing letters of recommendation.

These skills are impressive to an attending or resident, especially if you don't brag about being a former scribe. Be humble and you'll look awesome.

EMTs:

1) Also learn the lingo but at a slower rate because they are charting less and seeing less patients.

2) Also learn to identify sick vs not sick but don't have an attending by them to tell them: this person is sick. This person is pseudoseizures. They again also see a lot less patients. Their acuity is also higher on average so they probably see a lot more sick than not sick. You can argue this either way as good or bad.

3) They don't learn how to chart like a physician.

4) They learn how to talk and interact with staff and patients probably better than scribes.

5) They get exposed to the prehospital world. They learn to start IVs, manage airways by means other than intubation, run IV fluids, learn about cardiac monitoring and other useful life saving interventions depending on state and level (ie basic, intermediate, advanced). You will not be able to push drugs and intubate like a paramedic but if you run with a medic they may teach you these skills.

Overall, EMTs are more hands on experience with medicine while scribes are more educational. Most attendings LOVE scribes, especially ones interested in medicine, so you learn a lot working directly with the doctor.

For anyone interested in EM, both are priceless. If there is one thing I would have done differently in college it would have been to become a scribe and an EMT.

Thank you!! I would look into becoming a scribe if I did not already work FT.

 

[TF1031]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I know that most people who are EMTs don't really see a whole lot of stuff, however, I've had my fair share of traumas, rollovers, and a bunch of other stuff like CPR calls and overdoses... I feel that my experience as an EMT is something I would be able to always talk about, the crazy calls and the saving lives but I might try and do both.. Thanks everyone for the replies! My interview is a little later today anyways

 

[Life2dmax]

Hm. I'm interested in both but I'm graduating senior year and so it would be a gap year position. If so, would it be worth it? I have an adequate amount of clinical experience and I've been told that both these jobs don't really like to hire for just a year since they require training

 

[CowboyNiceguy]

Hm. I'm interested in both but I'm graduating senior year and so it would be a gap year position. If so, would it be worth it? I have an adequate amount of clinical experience and I've been told that both these jobs don't really like to hire for just a year since they require training

Scribes will hire for a year if you're doing full time. They pretty much expect it. It's meant to be a job for students, not a long-term thing.

 

[7331poas]

Hey so I am bumping this thread.

Can anyone comment on scribing in terms of admissions committees. Is scribing for a year something that adcoms find acceptable as far as clinical experience? I also have clinical volunteering for a year.

However, my schedule would get tighter if I add the EC as I am involved in numerous things already. I will do it if it helps my chances and conveys that I can answer "why medicine".

 

[alpinism]

Hey so I am bumping this thread.

Can anyone comment on scribing in terms of admissions committees. Is scribing for a year something that adcoms find acceptable as far as clinical experience? I also have clinical volunteering for a year.

However, my schedule would get tighter if I add the EC as I am involved in numerous things already. I will do it if it helps my chances and conveys that I can answer "why medicine".

Yes that's fine.

 

[NeuResurgens]

EMT here. From what I'm told, scribing is good to work closely with doctors, but if you want to actually work with patients and practice making your own clinical decisions on behalf of those patients, EMT is the way to go.

 

[7331poas]

EMT here. From what I'm told, scribing is good to work closely with doctors, but if you want to actually work with patients and practice making your own clinical decisions on behalf of those patients, EMT is the way to go.

I want to get into med school. So what I am concerned with is what line of employment is the higher yield strategy.

 

[Rekt]

I want to get into med school. So what I am concerned with is what line of employment is the higher yield strategy.

EMT is great.
Scribing is better.

I'm only a first year at a regular curriculum school, but it's already coming into play with our CS class. My classmates struggle to write an HPI, while I've done the whole H&P in less time. I can see it starting to help with physiology/pharm this year and I imagine it'll help a little with pathology. But I'm really itching to get back out on the floor for third year. Also, pretty much everything @Tenk said. One of my favorite things is that after scribing so long I could immediately tell if a patient was sick or not when we walked in the room.

With all that being said, I've met plenty of ****ty scribes in my time. How much you learn is almost entirely up to you. You can do the bare minimum and "log hours" or you can actively try and learn the medicine (without being annoying to the physician, which is probably worse).

 

[7331poas]

Right. What in saying is I couldnt really care less about what prepares me better. I am wondering what adcoms prefer.

 

[Rekt]

Right. What in saying is I couldnt really care less about what prepares me better. I am wondering what adcoms prefer.

Go EMT because you'll be a ****ty scribe.

 

[NeuResurgens]

I'm not sure adcoms will prefer either one, what they care about is whether you can articulate how what you learned doing the job prepped you for medicine and how it reinforced the idea that you want to be a doctor. For me, EMT was way better because I really wanted a taste of being responsible for my own patient care.

If you're only looking at it from the perspective of impressing adcoms, you'll probably miss the lessons you could learn that would *actually* impress the adcoms.

 

[Life2dmax]

What would be the best way to go about looking for scribe positions? Or EMTs for that matter?

Also, do most places require training for scribe? (besides on-site). I've heard of some not asking for it but some do