EMT: Will it help me?

[VisionaryTics]

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[morning]

I think the thread you linked to is very misleading. EMT experience is not going to make up for crappy grades/MCAT, but you're NOT going to get into med school without some clinical experience, and becoming an EMT is ONE way to get clinical experience. Not the only way or maybe even the best way, but certainly a valid path. Other ideas are phlebotomy or CNA. You will probably be just a volunteer, though, for at least a year...you should consider that. At least where I am, the job market is really tough for new trainees and unless you give your skills away for free you're not going to get experience. This is true even for new CNAs, whereas previously CNAs had a better job market than EMTs.

 

[DocMcCoy]

Well, you also have a lack of shadowing which you can take care of in the next year and a half. The late clinical experience probably hurt you but if you continue it until your next application cycle that should help. As far as the EMT-B course goes I find it beneficial for two reasons. First, most courses are 5-8 hours, it is a relatively easy course if you are interested and take it seriously, and it calculates directly into your sGPA. Second, if you actually get a job as an EMT-B and say six months to a year experience that could only help you. I am not aware of your state requirements but some require more than an EMT-B (EMT-I or EMT-P) to actually get a job. I wouldn't say ADCOMS don't give a **** about EMT-B, but most students take it and never put it to work therefore it wouldn't have a lot of impact on your application. For what its worth, my EMT and army medic experience were always commented on favorably by interviewers. I also like the phlebotomist idea posted above.

 

[Marcus Brody]

EMT is not a great choice imo. few places will invest in training granting huge responsibilities to a new EMT who doesn't even plan on sticking around very long. that said, the clinical experience isn't even very interesting. you're a taxi with a stretcher.

other options are

phlebotomy
EKG tech
critical care tech
CNA
LPN (there are some accelerated programs)

 

[Morsetlis]

For "quick and easy" CNA will get you a job faster than EMT certification. You'll probably need to take ECG classes for both though if you want to work in a hospital.

 

[VisionaryTics]

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[Mackey]

To answer the title, no, it will only hurt you.

 

[VisionaryTics]

Any more input?

 

[rowerontheriver]

I think I would likely volunteer at a 911 service near me. I've heard that this bypasses the dual problems of 1). Becoming a glorified taxi driver since you mostly deal with emergency calls rather than interfacility transfers,

I worked as an EMT for 4 years. Even doing 911, 85% of the time you are still a glorified taxi driver (although it definitely depends on where you are working) but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything and I think it had a lot to do with me getting into med school. That being said, I think it was my being about to talk about the clinical experience I got during the 4 years of working 20+ hours a week (while in school) that helped me. 2 months of experience by the time you are applying again isn't going to impress anyone all that much so you're better off doing it for what you would get out of it personally (if anything) than what an adcom will.

Do some shadowing and work on your personal statement. Don't underestimate the importance of the latter- a stellar one may not be able to get you in, but a dull, poor one can definitely keep you out.

 

[VisionaryTics]

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[Morsetlis]

I think I would likely volunteer at a 911 service near me. I've heard that this bypasses the dual problems of 1). Becoming a glorified taxi driver since you mostly deal with emergency calls rather than interfacility transfers, and 2). Trying to find a paying job as an EMT-B. Anyone have any advice on this? I'm from Illinois, if anyone happens to know the EMS services around here.

Thanks for the advice so far.

I dunno about you but I find it impossible to get a volunteer position, a city, where you actually have responsibilities instead of just tagging along with another person.

Ie. in San Diego a medic rig has 2 paramedics or 1 medic and 1 EMT. You'll never be the EMT... instead you'll just be a volunteer/ridealong with another medic/EMT in the back.

 

[morning]

I dunno about you but I find it impossible to get a volunteer position, a city, where you actually have responsibilities instead of just tagging along with another person.

Ie. in San Diego a medic rig has 2 paramedics or 1 medic and 1 EMT. You'll never be the EMT... instead you'll just be a volunteer/ridealong with another medic/EMT in the back.

It sounds like the best certificate would be phlebotomy, then...one would assume volunteer phleb positions allow you to work with blood, because I don't know what else they'd be doing. Crappiest job market, though.

CNA, I think, has gotta be the easiest to both get and use, but it doesn't provide much relevant experience for doctors. You mainly wash old man balls and roll people onto bedpans.

 

[Morsetlis]

^ Correct.

 

[Davydude7]

How much shadowing have you done?

 

[Cmaj7th]

you could look into becoming an ER tech/patient care technician. I think thats more applicable than EMS since you will be working in a hospital. EMT-b or CNA can get you that job, Im doing both just for s&g since Im 19 and want to make a little more cash than cafe's provide. around my area they do wound care, patient transport, assist in CPR, place IVs... you get the idea. Im also becoming a vollie firefighter with the EMT-b just because I think it'd be fun. do whatever interests you so you have more to talk about and so you dont waste your time.

 

[Morsetlis]

Even LVN's can't place IV's and you can?

 

[Mbeas]

I think becoming an EMT and USING your skills by either volunteering or working is a great asset to your application. The reason I put "using" in caps is because there are a surprising number of people who get certified just to put it on their application, but they gain no experience in the field. If you plan on doing this, I wouldn't bother wasting your time or money.

However, even if you become an EMT-B (the lowest level on the EMT scale) you have a great opportunity to begin assessing patients and gaining great communicational skills which will all be vital to becoming a doctor. EMT's are usually the first on scene, which provides a great way to begin assessing situations. You will get a lot of direct patient contact, as well as take vitals, intubate, and use different medical devices (e.g. glucometer). Take note, however, that there are different levels of EMT's and the skill capacity differs amongst levels. Sure, there are other jobs such as phlebotomy that will allow for direct patient contact. Realize however, that (depending on the level of EMT) EMT's are able to start IV's just like phlebotomists, but are also able to so much more.

Anyways, I am by no means bashing on any other jobs...I'm just trying to prove that this opportunity has incredible potential to look great on any med school application if it is taken seriously.

Also, I wanted to emphasize shadowing, which could be the most important in terms of clinical experience. Not even being an EMT will show you what being a doctor is REALLY like.

 

[Cmaj7th]

Im not a PCT yet, havent had time to take CNA or EMT-b. but my friend is one at a hospital across the street from my campus and they let him place IVs. he's been there awhile and is doing his paramedic clinicals there so they're comfortable with him. the other techs Ive talked to made this set up sound not uncommon, perhaps its a regional thing?

 

[jc14]

I've been volunteering at my local FD for 6 years now, and I am an EMT-IV (the intermediate level in TN.) In my interviews, being an EMT was something that was uniformly well received. However, I think the adcomm may have been more interested in the long term volunteer commitment than the license I held. (I also have the forever-fun paid part-time "taxi" job..)

A friend of mine, same license level, works at our local hospital and their regulations prohibit EMT techs from starting IVs.. (even though the license title is EMT "IV" and we're trained to administer them) They'll let them do blood draws but that's about as far as it goes.

 

[she woolf]

I'm becoming a CNA and my mother literally gasped like she was about to die -_- I'll do w/e it takes [almost ^_~ ] to become a doc. I have a lot of Nurses and CNAs in my family so I know I can handle it.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

I currently am an EMT and i work as a tech in an ER in Illinois.

Most EMS jobs you can get.....yes are going to be glorified taxi drivers even if you do 911. The thing about 911 is that those are usually handled by the Fire Departments while the privates do the inter-facility transports around here. I am lucky to be a firefighter/emt out in the suburbs and thus im doing 911 calls ( if you can call it that).

Being an EMT is what gave me the credentials to get my PCT job in which they trained me on EKG and phlebotomy when i was hired.

Of course i would recommend it for anyone, but that is only if you actually use it.

If you have any other questions you can PM me if you want.

I think I would likely volunteer at a 911 service near me. I've heard that this bypasses the dual problems of 1). Becoming a glorified taxi driver since you mostly deal with emergency calls rather than interfacility transfers, and 2). Trying to find a paying job as an EMT-B. Anyone have any advice on this? I'm from Illinois, if anyone happens to know the EMS services around here.

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

[Dial71]

The quality of work that you will find with an EMT-B cert varies greatly even between adjacent counties.

I worked a "taxi" service for about 2 months before I got a hospital-based job. Much better experience in my opinion. I do all the dirty work: stocking linens, EKG's, blood draws, IV's, splinting, restraints, monitors, transport, CPR, BVM ventilation, sometimes extrication (sick, fat people out of cars) and I love it.

We techs are respected as collegues by the nursing and medical staffs for our skills (we place the majority of the lines) and our familiarity with equipment. It took a while to find my place, but I really enjoy working in such a team environment and I've learned volumes in terms of relating to patients and collaborating with other medical professionals.

I didn't anticipate working in a hospital when I started my EMT program, but looking back, I can see that it was the right choice for me. If you can find a similar position, I would highly recommend it.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

I have a similar job as you Dial in an ER but I also work for a fire department, I must say i love both jobs equally for different reasons.

I would agree with you that, at least at my hospital as well, our techs are given a lot more respect than any of the CNA's on the floors. I dont think i could ever be on the floor, I need to be where the action is.

 

[Siggy]

The ironic thing about the 'taxi' jobs is that those jobs generally have the sicker medical patients. There isn't much sicker than a dialysis patient.

 

[Morsetlis]

They're sick, but they're also stable. Besides, what on earth can an EMT possibly do for a dialysis patient? When you become an emergency vascular surgeon, let me know ;p

I saw a trauma tonight (assault to face) in the ER. I'd have to say, transporting that would've been more fun than transporting dialysis (once when doing ridealongs I basically had 7 back-to-back dialysis transports within 12 hours, then 1 MVA).

 

[Dial71]

I have a similar job as you Dial in an ER but I also work for a fire department, I must say i love both jobs equally for different reasons.

I would agree with you that, at least at my hospital as well, our techs are given a lot more respect than any of the CNA's on the floors. I dont think i could ever be on the floor, I need to be where the action is.

True that. There is no comparison between a floor tech and a crossed-trained and capable ER tech. It is quite the compliment when nurses fight over who gets to "use" the techs.

My shop just started a holding area in our old cath lab where a floor nurse and tech tend to stable pts awaiting beds. At times, the ER techs are assigned to this area. We all dread this assignment.

 

[Siggy]

They're sick, but they're also stable. Besides, what on earth can an EMT possibly do for a dialysis patient? When you become an emergency vascular surgeon, let me know ;p

I saw a trauma tonight (assault to face) in the ER. I'd have to say, transporting that would've been more fun than transporting dialysis (once when doing ridealongs I basically had 7 back-to-back dialysis transports within 12 hours, then 1 MVA).

Yea, back to back dialysis patients gets old, but as old as driving the paramedic all day long? Also, what can a basic do for most patients? The fact is that most patients either need more care than a basic can provide or nothing more than a ride. The one drug that basics use often (supplemental oxygen) is drastically over used and unneeded in the vast majority of patients it is provided to. Also, at least with discharges you can page through the patient's H&P. Sure, 911 is more fun than non-emergent transports, but that doesn't mean all "emergency" patients are critical. If I had a choice between working on a pure 911 ambulance or a pure CCT ambulance working with an RN or RT, I'd pick the CCT unit any day of the week.

 

[Dial71]

Also, what can a basic do for most patients? The fact is that most patients either need more care than a basic can provide or nothing more than a ride.

Rule Number One of EMS: Treat 'em with diesel.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

True that. There is no comparison between a floor tech and a crossed-trained and capable ER tech. It is quite the compliment when nurses fight over who gets to "use" the techs.

My shop just started a holding area in our old cath lab where a floor nurse and tech tend to stable pts awaiting beds. At times, the ER techs are assigned to this area. We all dread this assignment.

Im actually pretty excited at a new position we are having. We recently merged with another hospital like a mile away and got a whole new ER in 2005. Since then no ambulances were allowed to go to the other hospital, but they still need to staff its ER ( well with 1 doc and 2 nurses). Now they are cutting it down to 1 doc, 1 nurse, and 1 tech. Because of the area, GSW's still get dropped off at the front door from time to time so it should be exciting.

 

[Morsetlis]

So it has an unused ER? I don't get it @_@

What kind of ER has 1 doc 1 nurse and 1 tech. Lol.

 

[Siggy]

Small hospitals. Bell Flower Medical Center in Southern LACo has a 3 bed ER that they staff with 1 physician and maybe 2 RNs.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

So it has an unused ER? I don't get it @_@

What kind of ER has 1 doc 1 nurse and 1 tech. Lol.

Well no ambulances are allowed to go there, but it has been established in the community for over a century and thus people still go there from time to time ( i.e. unexpected gunshot drop offs). The other hospital got a new 32 bed ER and is staffed with 2-3 docs, 2PA's, 8-12 nurses and 3-5 techs depending on the time.

It is mostly unused yes( why they are taking a nurse away), but it does get things from time to time

Edit: the two hospitals that merged together are like a block away from each other so theres a real ER close by.

 

[Morsetlis]

Sounds like the best job in the world 😀

 

[FirefighterDoc]

If they get anything too bad we have been known to send over a few nurses/techs and MAYBE a doc in like a security SUV or something, its a quick drive.