Emt?

[beatla19]

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I'm thinking of becoming an EMT during my final 3 college years. I think it would be a lot of fun, but does anyone know how much this helps in applications?

 

[MaybeMD]

Beat LA? Are you a Giants fan or something?😀

Anyway, there are a lot of threads on this topic, just do a search for them. I have been thinking of becoming an EMT myself, but from reading the posts from EMT's over the past year I have gotten the impression that being an EMT doesn't do a whole lot to improve your med school application, but it does give you something to talk about in a possible interview.

 

[bts4202]

Dear beatla19,

Being an EMT only really helps if you have experience and have worked in the field for some time. But I doubt if you want to take out several years and be an EMT. I am an EMT so I am not saying doing that is bad, but it will only really help you if you take time off med school to get experience. I would suggest in your last year to do some sort of scientific research project that you can try and have published somewhere or lots of hospital volunteering.

Good luck,

BTS4202
President fo AMSA
St. Christopher's College of Medicine

 

[beatla19]

Yeah, after starting the thread I realized there were probably a ton of threads on this. I'll look. By the way, Giants rule!

 

[pocwana]

i know there are lots of threads and stuff, but my suggestion to all who considering this, work for whatever ambulance provider runs the medical calls for the area in which you will work so that your work does not solely consist of running little old people between hospitals and con homes

 

[Brewster]

I became certified as an EMT during my freshman year of college. I then worked as an EMT during my junior and senior years. It was a great experience...I learned a lot, saw medicine from a provider's perspective, enjoyed it, and even made a little money. I don't know how much it helped, but it did give me something to talk about in my essay and interviews.

So, if you want to do it...go for it. I think you will enjoy it. If you can get a job as an EMT while in school, even better. Or, if you want, you can take time off between college and med school.

 

[Sweet Tea]

Originally posted by pocwana
i know there are lots of threads and stuff, but my suggestion to all who considering this, work for whatever ambulance provider runs the medical calls for the area in which you will work so that your work does not solely consist of running little old people between hospitals and con homes

As usual, listen to pocwana b/c she knows what she's talking about. There's a big difference between doing transports and doing 911 emergency calls. And besides, actual emergency calls are way more fun. 😉

 

[cytanaka]

I got my EMT cert soph year, then took a semester off junior year to work full time in LA. It is a pretty awesome job if you get to run 911, especially in a place like Inglewood. You'll see the craziest stuff. I'm not an adcom, so I won't tell you whether or not it'll get you into medschool, but it definetely qualifies as good clinical experience, gives you something to talk about in essays/interviews, and proves to yourself you can handle pressure situations and that medicine is the field for you.

BTW, those non-911 calls actually can be pretty interesting too. About 25% of the calls I ran were interfacility transports, which yes, often went to convalescent homes. But, some of them were to neo-natal clinics, burn units, etc. Also, since those retirement homes are pretty crappy, especially in LA, those calls can get pretty interesting. Twice, we've had a patient code in the middle of a "boring IFT". Definetely, I prefer 911, but you can still get something out of non-emergency calls, especially since you end up running the show, not a paramedic.

I'm glad I did the EMT thing, though I never want to do it again; pay sucks, get treated like dirt, long hours, no respect.... But I was pretty proud of my experience through the application process.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

GO ORIOLES!

 

[dumbest premed]

I would definitely recommend any premed student to work as an EMT for a while. I've been doing it for 2 years and will also be a firefighter in another couple of weeks, and I gotta say that it's an EXCELLENT experience.

As a health care provider, you'll REALLY see what your "average patient" will be. It's better to learn now that all of your patients aren't going to be soccer moms from the suburbs than to realize it during your third year of med school. I've had patients spit on me, swear at me, curse me, puke on me, shout at me, and even attempt to stab me once. You'll truly learn what a "patient" can be...and if you still can picture yourself caring for them for the rest of your life...then you are truly ready to be a physician. The technical skills and patient assessment skills that you will develop as an EMT will also give you a large advantage over all of your peers during third year clinical rotations.

I think that being an EMT will give you an advantage when applying to medical school, if it is accompanied by good numbers. It will absolutely make you stand out over someone who volunteered in the ER for 50 hours.

Also, as many people have posted, be sure that the ambulance provider that you work for takes 911 medical calls. Transporting people between hospitals, nursing homes, and similar places can be interesting....but you definitely will want the 911 experience as well....try to find a provider that does mainly 911.

Overall, EMT is a great experience...whether you volunteer or do it for pay. My suggestion is that you go for it if you have any interest.

 

[gwyn779]

I got certified my sophomore year in college and volunteered my junior and senior years for the local fire dept (they did all the rescue calls). It was a good experience and I got a lot out of it, even though I was still doing school stuff. You don't have to take time off to appreciate it. I thought it gave me a very good introduction to dealing with patients and helped solidify my desire to want to be a doctor.

And like dumbest premed said, if you still want to deal with patients after some of the $hit you see as an EMT, you'll probably do well. I had people throw up on the ambulance and even one guy who had ODed hit on me. That was amusing.

 

[bts4202]

Here is the numebr one most important thing to portray as a pre-med wanting to get into med school.

My father is a doctor, my uncle is a doctor, and a lot of my friends are doctors.... the one recurring theme in their opinion of someone is "have they paid their dues in life". What that means is that physicians have suffered before medical school, during med school, and esp during residency. They want to know that you are willing to go through anything to be a doctor. They want to know that you did things that you were very uncomforatble in, very upset with, yet you are still motivated. If that means that you volunteer as a bed pan cleaner than do it. If that means that you get puked on in the back of an ambulance, than do it. As long as when you sit in front of an interviewer, you can say that you have done and will do anything to be a doc. That is the most impressive thing to a doctor meeting you.

Sincerely,

BTS4202
President of AMSA
St. Christopher's College of Medicine

 

[desi flava]

im thinkin to volunteer at the first aid squad in my town and later get certified as an EMT over the summer. can any1 tell me how many hours you need to get certified? is there some kinda written test in the end to get certified? (oh how i just LOVE the idea of tests..) is it an "intense" course or a breeze?
also, how many hours do you actually spend in the emergency room? i've heard about 10-15 hrs in the ER, but does that vary with each emt course?

 

[dumbest premed]

Originally posted by desi flava
im thinkin to volunteer at the first aid squad in my town and later get certified as an EMT over the summer. can any1 tell me how many hours you need to get certified? is there some kinda written test in the end to get certified? (oh how i just LOVE the idea of tests..) is it an "intense" course or a breeze?
also, how many hours do you actually spend in the emergency room? i've heard about 10-15 hrs in the ER, but does that vary with each emt course?

I'm guessing that you would be a certified first responder(CFR-D) with your town's first aid rescue squad....that's a good start. The EMT course usually meets for 3 or 4 months 2-4 times a week for 2-4 hours....depending on how the scheduling is. After the course you need to take a certification test...as well as a practical...it's not very difficult. Most courses involve about 10 hours in the emergency room. If you sign up with a rescue squad or fire department with a time commitment they will usually put you through the course for free.

 

[beanbean]

To become a basic EMT takes about 120-130 hours of coursework. Check with a service in your state to find out what the state regulations are. Some states accept the National Registry curriculum and certification; others do not. In order to ride as an observer for most services you must be CPR certified and OSHA requires that you complete basic HAZ MAT and BloodBourne Pathogen training.

The best advice I can give is to become an EMT because you want to work or volunteer as an EMT; don't do it if you just want something that looks good on your application. It is a wonderful experience, but your heart has to be in it in order for you to learn and grow from it.

 

[pocwana]

Originally posted by beanbean
don't do it if you just want something that looks good on your application.

one of my interviewers asked me why i was an emt, then told me that it means jack **** to the doctors. she even said that nurses who apply to medical school are held in no higher regard than anyone else despite their medical background.

 

[ASDIC]

Originally posted by pocwana
one of my interviewers asked me why i was an emt, then told me that it means jack **** to the doctors. she even said that nurses who apply to medical school are held in no higher regard than anyone else despite their medical background.

well adcoms want "clinical experience"...wut else do they want us to do?

 

[paramed2premed]

Originally posted by beanbean
It is a wonderful experience, but your heart has to be in it in order for you to learn and grow from it.

Right on. I have been a paramedic in a 911-only serviceo for seven years. The idea that someone would do this just to "look better" on an application both puzzles me and annoys me.

It puzzles me because the adcoms will ask you why you did it, and you better have a good idea. Don't ask what they want, ask yourself what you want. Do you crave experience, the responsiblity of caring for injured and ill, the old and the smelly? Or do you just want another EC?

It annoys me, because so many people just want the EMT tab to improve their applications. I feel I play a sacred role in my job, and I labor every day to be equal to the trust that patients give me. I don't have much to say to people who just want to use it as a springboard.

If you are set on going to a developing country, consider a EMT course at schools that teach Wilderness EMT courses. They cater to guides, Navy SEALs, climbers, and folks who want to go into the Peace Corps. They emphasize the difference between "sidewalk" medicine and "no road" medicine. They are also usually intensive courses, which means you have your EMT in 1 month! Look up SOLO, in New Hampshire, as an example.

 

[Ekaltadeta]

By all means become an EMT if you think it is something you really want to do. Much like everything else prior to med school, do not do it solely because you think it will look good on an application. Anyhow, once an EMT, definitely get the feel of working for a lights and siren type ambulane company. But lots of EMTs do that. Find interesting and fun field medicine pursuits too. As an EMT you can work rock concerts, theme parks, NASCAR races, motocross, marathons, adventure races, lots of fun things. Find your groove and do it all! These unique experiences will surely give you a patient care edge in the field, and will also look good on your applications. Good times.

 

[paramed2premed]

For example:

I will be working at a PHISH concert this summer, five days of cool music and stinky fans. (They're the ones who sound like the Dead, right?)

From past experience, this will consist mostly of wounds to bare feet, but it is a unique enviroment!