Hey y'all I need some help with this. EMT with CNA? Or Surgical tech

[The Buff OP]

If anybody has any input into this, I pretty much appreciated.​

A little background about me I'm a Texas resident, I'm currently a EMT-B student. I applied for paramedic school, but some bull-crap happen with my paperwork and now it is too late because the deadline has passed. I need a job that pays enough so I can make it on my own. My parent's are moving back to California and I really don't want to go back (school wise). EMT's where I live if they are on 911 service they make 7-9 an hr and transport companies make the most about 12 dollars an hour. So that is not a lot of moolah.

Can I get my CNA certification and blend it with my EMT cert and get paid more?
Or should I go for a surgical tech program?

Keep in mind I'm a bodybuilder, so I required a lot of food, supplements and student who hardly ever gets decent amount of financial aid awarded. That's why I worry about income. LOL

If any bad grammar, me b@D.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Lamel]

Look for CNA, surgical tech, and EMT salaries in your area. Go with the one with the most money if you are supporting yourself.

All will provide good clinical experience.

Having an EMT-B can only help applying for other health care positions.

 

[Soulstice]

If anybody has any input into this, I pretty much appreciated.​

A little background about me I'm a Texas resident, I'm currently a EMT-B student. I applied for paramedic school, but some bull-crap happen with my paperwork and now it is too late because the deadline has passed. I need a job that pays enough so I can make it on my own. My parent's are moving back to California and I really don't want to go back (school wise). EMT's where I live if they are on 911 service they make 7-9 an hr and transport companies make the most about 12 dollars an hour. So that is not a lot of moolah.

Can I get my CNA certification and blend it with my EMT cert and get paid more?
Or should I go for a surgical tech program?

Keep in mind I'm a bodybuilder, so I required a lot of food, supplements and student who hardly ever gets decent amount of financial aid awarded. That's why I worry about income. LOL

If any bad grammar, me b@D.

Where? In big cities? A lot of time you'll need prior work/volunteer experience to get hired on as an emtb

 

[FrkyBgStok]

I'd say emt or CNA. Both are about equal in pay usually and in many areas they are interchangeable, but surgical tech in my area is a 2 year degree and much less flexible hours. For CNA, you can always find shifts to fit your schedule.

 

[Radon XP]

Out of curiosity, how are you getting EMT-B certification? CC or through a hospital program? I can't find a credible non-CC program, and I don't want to do it through CC because I don't want it to be on my transcript if I don't get an A in the course. I also can't find a program any shorter than 4 months.

 

[The Buff OP]

Look for CNA, surgical tech, and EMT salaries in your area. Go with the one with the most money if you are supporting yourself.

All will provide good clinical experience.

Having an EMT-B can only help applying for other health care positions.

Surgical tech pays more 19hr

 

[The Buff OP]

Where? In big cities? A lot of time you'll need prior work/volunteer experience to get hired on as an emtb

Yeah, for 911 services they want EMT's with experience. In big cities.

 

[The Buff OP]

I'd say emt or CNA. Both are about equal in pay usually and in many areas they are interchangeable, but surgical tech in my area is a 2 year degree and much less flexible hours. For CNA, you can always find shifts to fit your schedule.

The programs around here are 1 year. If I end up doing the surgical tech the par-time shifts are suitable for me like, from 4:30PM-9:00PM
I don't know about CNA. Does it depend where you work? I don't want to wipe patients butts or changing them.

 

[The Buff OP]

Out of curiosity, how are you getting EMT-B certification? CC or through a hospital program? I can't find a credible non-CC program, and I don't want to do it through CC because I don't want it to be on my transcript if I don't get an A in the course. I also can't find a program any shorter than 4 months.

I'm doing a 3 month program at a CC. It is much cheaper to do it with a CC. But honestly I'm starting to think EMT-B was a waste of time it is really different from what us pre-med's want to experience. I think being a medical assistant or surgical tech would be a much greater experience.

 

[Radon XP]

I'm doing a 3 month program at a CC. It is much cheaper to do it with a CC. But honestly I'm starting to think EMT-B was a waste of time it is really different from what us pre-med's want to experience. I think being a medical assistant or surgical tech would be a much greater experience.

Are you finding it a difficult class to get an A in?

 

[Planes2Doc]

Whichever works best with your schedule so that you can maintain the highest possible grades, get a high MCAT score, and maintain a social life. Since ADCOMs have seen all of these things a million times over, it won't matter which one you do.

 

[The Buff OP]

Are you finding it a difficult class to get an A in?

Dude, my class is so unfair most of us are bombing it. We all study hard (I think I over do it) I learn the anatomy and other stuff and it is not even on the test. The hands-on procedures I got it down, but the test are dumb. Honestly, EMS is a different path from medical school. I'd say medical assisting, CNA, and surgical tech give you the most medical setting clinical experience. EMS is pre-hospital. We determine the MOI (mechanism of injury) and chief complaint and do what we can and let the hospital do the rest (nurses and doctors).

 

[Soulstice]

Dude, my class is so unfair most of us are bombing it. We all study hard (I think I over do it) I learn the anatomy and other stuff and it is not even on the test. The hands-on procedures I got it down, but the test are dumb. Honestly, EMS is a different path from medical school. I'd say medical assisting, CNA, and surgical tech give you the most medical setting clinical experience. EMS is pre-hospital. We determine the MOI (mechanism of injury) and chief complaint and do what we can and let the hospital do the rest (nurses and doctors).

In EMS you make more big decisions because you're the go-to. Maybe the other jobs are in medical settings but following instructions vs. making life and death choices and taking lives into your own hands makes a difference too

 

[The Buff OP]

In EMS you make more big decisions because you're the go-to. Maybe the other jobs are in medical settings but following instructions vs. making life and death choices and taking lives into your own hands makes a difference too

Trust me, I see your point. But I'm saying most of the pre-meds here want a clinical experience where they could use that experience when they finally make it. You know working day to day along doctors, taking people's vitals, and interacting with them. Also, seeing in a hospital setting procedures being done.

 

[The Buff OP]

Whichever works best with your schedule so that you can maintain the highest possible grades, get a high MCAT score, and maintain a social life. Since ADCOMs have seen all of these things a million times over, it won't matter which one you do.

Thanks, will do. I know, I'm not one of those pre-medical students who wants the stuff for credentials or because it looks cool in an application.

Some people might think, "Hey man you are a bodybuilder, why not become a personal trainer?"

My brother is a PT and he has to hustle for clients. I'm done with sales in my lifetime. lol

 

[Lamel]

I would like to second the fact, medical assistant is a GREAT experience, and sometimes you can find a private clinic job without certification. It even doubles as shadowing since you are in there with the doc most of the time.

 

[RuralPhysician8]

Two of my friends are CNAs and it is a dirty job, so unless you advance it to ER tech (in my area, you have to have either an EMT-I or a CNA license to train as a tech), you can expect to "wipe buts". I heard EKG tech was really night shift friendly as long as you were willing to work in the ER and in my state it only requires a 3 month program. Phlebotomists in my area make a decent wage too considering it is basically one semester of night classes, ~$16 an hour once established.

 

[Soulstice]

Trust me, I see your point. But I'm saying most of the pre-meds here want a clinical experience where they could use that experience when they finally make it. You know working day to day along doctors, taking people's vitals, and interacting with them. Also, seeing in a hospital setting procedures being done.

Lol, EMS is tremendously useful; it's literally the basis for every other essay I've written. You'll learn loads by doing prorcures, managing patients, handling ethical predicaments, and serving in disadvantaged areas. Trust me..

 

[Soulstice]

Two of my friends are CNAs and it is a dirty job, so unless you advance it to ER tech (in my area, you have to have either an EMT-I or a CNA license to train as a tech), you can expect to "wipe buts". I heard EKG tech was really night shift friendly as long as you were willing to work in the ER and in my state it only requires a 3 month program. Phlebotomists in my area make a decent wage too considering it is basically one semester of night classes, ~$16 an hour once established.

Phleb is incredibly boring though - did it for a while (on EMT license) and really blood draws will pay bills but you'll learn more being more involved in patient care

 

[jamiechan]

If anybody has any input into this, I pretty much appreciated.​

A little background about me I'm a Texas resident, I'm currently a EMT-B student. I applied for paramedic school, but some bull-crap happen with my paperwork and now it is too late because the deadline has passed. I need a job that pays enough so I can make it on my own. My parent's are moving back to California and I really don't want to go back (school wise). EMT's where I live if they are on 911 service they make 7-9 an hr and transport companies make the most about 12 dollars an hour. So that is not a lot of moolah.

Can I get my CNA certification and blend it with my EMT cert and get paid more?
Or should I go for a surgical tech program?

Keep in mind I'm a bodybuilder, so I required a lot of food, supplements and student who hardly ever gets decent amount of financial aid awarded. That's why I worry about income. LOL

If any bad grammar, me b@D.

if you plan on coming to california dont expect to get paid a lot as an EMT. I m an EMT and i get 8.25 per hour.

 

[The Buff OP]

Two of my friends are CNAs and it is a dirty job, so unless you advance it to ER tech (in my area, you have to have either an EMT-I or a CNA license to train as a tech), you can expect to "wipe buts". I heard EKG tech was really night shift friendly as long as you were willing to work in the ER and in my state it only requires a 3 month program. Phlebotomists in my area make a decent wage too considering it is basically one semester of night classes, ~$16 an hour once established.

In my area phlebotomist make around 12-14 an hr. I think people with experience get that big 14.

 

[The Buff OP]

if you plan on coming to california dont expect to get paid a lot as an EMT. I m an EMT and i get 8.25 per hour.

Nah, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon lol. I will apply for medical schools out there, though. You see, my major is business and I search for good schools in California that would have my area in interest in business an none of them have that major.

 

[The Buff OP]

Lol, EMS is tremendously useful; it's literally the basis for every other essay I've written. You'll learn loads by doing prorcures, managing patients, handling ethical predicaments, and serving in disadvantaged areas. Trust me..

I feel yah. I agree with what you said. I know some of the stuff I'm learning they don't teach it in medical school. What I meant to say it was just some people don't want to go this route and rather get a job that is more like a clinic or hospital setting.