How worth it is EMS? Looking for opinions.

[buttahz]

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I'm currently a sophomore with about a 1.5 hour commute to campus. I've been really interested in becoming an EMT since before starting college, but it's just been extremely hard to find the time to volunteer with an ambulance corps or even to fit in the night classes into my schedule.

I'm in New York, so the only cert I could get is an EMT-B. My school has a very active ambulance corps (basically handling intoxes) which I've tried to get involved with last year, but I found the late hours hard to work with as a commuter and interfering with my grades too much.

How worth it is it becoming an EMT-B? I wanted to do it because it seemed like an exciting way to volunteer and the closest thing to getting real clinical and medical experience as an undergrad. oh, and the uniforms look cool.

So currently I've been volunteering with an ambulance corps in my own neighborhood (been doing it for about a month) just doing clerical work and learning to dispatch. I doubt I'll be able to fit ems classes next semester though, because I'm taking 21 credits (which is basically how much my courseload has been and will always be lol). It's difficult to fit everything in because I have a 1.5 hour long commute.

I'm not sure if I could fit it in during the summer because I may do one of those 10 week research internship programs, or a pre-med internship. If I don't become an EMT, how valuable is my volunteer work with an ambulance corps?

Does anyone have any advice or opinions to offer? Suggestions as to how I should be using my time?

 

[ZFanatic]

As someone who was on a collegiate EMS squad in NY (non-transporting) for two years, and got my EMT-B, I would recommend it if and only if your squad will have a very active role.

90% of the calls we faced were BS fainting or sprained ankle or EtOH's in which we simply did nothing but provide oxygen, take vitals, and wait for the ambulance to arrive. Kind of a joke IMO, and really a waste of your time and ~$900 to take the class/certify.

If I were you, I would look into a volunteer fire department/ambulance corps in your area. I joined a volunteer fire department and although it was cut short for some extraneous circumstances, I got more experience in 3 months there than I did in 2 years as on campus EMS. Many of them will also pay for your classes for EMT-B/I/CC etc.

 

[buttahz]

Thanks. My college's EMS is active in the sense that they get a LOT of calls, but most of those calls are drunk college kids.

I'm currently dispatching and doing paperwork for a community volunteer ambulance corps.

More opinions?

 

[rubisco88]

Thanks. My college's EMS is active in the sense that they get a LOT of calls, but most of those calls are drunk college kids.

I'm currently dispatching and doing paperwork for a community volunteer ambulance corps.

More opinions?

In my opinion, I don't think you should do the EMT-B unless you have the time to commit to it. With a full course load, it doesn't seem like you think you will be able to have a very active role. If you wanted to do it, I would suggest you be able to commit at least 2 shifts a week.

As for volunteering for ambulance corps, doing paperwork and talking on the phone doesn't seem like very valuable experience. I'd try to get involved in something were you could actually interact with patients. I think doing paperwork is a waste of time. It adds little to your resume and you wouldn't really have anything to say about it in your interviews.

 

[buttahz]

Thanks. I couldn't commit to it during the school year, although I would be able to put in a lot during the summer. To clarify, it would be the community VAC I would be getting involved with - if I ever became a tech - and not my school's.

You're right about clerical work being a waste of time :/

 

[45408]

It was fun. I ran mostly 911 calls in the 'hood, and it was a good source of income. I think it helped my application, and I kept doing it as an M2. Do it if you want to.

 

[jjesusfreak01]

I currently work fulltime hours as an emt in Wake County NC, and I'll have my intermediate credential with 5 months of ALS field time before med school. What I think the experience gives you is the confidence to touch patients and the ability to assess well, both things that will be invaluable when you enter med school clinicals. It also teaches you how to think through mechanisms of injury as well as consider how peoples medical history affects their emergent conditions. You're essentially an MD light in the field. Tons of fun in my opinion and worth every minute.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk

 

[buttahz]

It was fun. I ran mostly 911 calls in the 'hood, and it was a good source of income. I think it helped my application, and I kept doing it as an M2. Do it if you want to.

TheProwler, were you a basic or intermediate?

New question, as a sophomore, do I still have time to get the cert AND valuable experience when I could take the classes during the summer at the earliest?

 

[45408]

EMT-Basic. I took the class as a sophomore in the fall, got a job as an EMT the next fall as a junior. Worked for almost a year before I sent in the AMCAS.

 

[TexasPhysician]

If you want to do it because you enjoy the work, go for it.

If you want to do it for a medical school app boost, you are wasting time. The training is extensive for a small boost on your application. There are many other activities that are less time intensive and/or more impressive.

 

[buttahz]

TexPhysician, I definitely wouldn't do something that time consuming/difficult for an app boost. It's just something I thought would be exciting and challenging... as opposed to fetching water and blankets. Based on where I live I think most community VACs would see a lot of really interesting/busy nights.

Prowler, thanks again. I'm not looking for employment and I'm planning on applying at the end of my senior year.

 

[LadiiKay]

buttahz, I just PM'd you some info.. check it out.

 

[azerkail]

while we're on the topic of ems worth it for pre-med, anyone know of volunteer FD's or EMS agencies in southern california besides ventura county?

but i would like to add that er teching is also available to emt-b's if you're looking for a job with your licensure that would also be good to have on an amcas application, but really i'm doing this because i too have a fear of patients... o.o

 

[buttahz]

LadiiKay 🙂

azerkail: what year are you in btw?

I just got back from a dispatching shift. 7-12 am which is kind of rough especially since this means giving up my friday nights but it wasn't bad. Mainly chilling in the office...

 

[azerkail]

LadiiKay 🙂

azerkail: what year are you in btw?

I just got back from a dispatching shift. 7-12 am which is kind of rough especially since this means giving up my friday nights but it wasn't bad. Mainly chilling in the office...

for all intents and purposes, i'm starting at square one. was pre-nursing in undergrad for 2 years and didn't make much headway...

 

[fiznat]

This question comes up fairly often, and the consensus is always that EMS really isn't worth the investment as a application booster. Working as an EMT can be a fun job, but people tend to overestimate both the type of calls they will do, and the value such experience will have in medical school. As others have said: unless you're doing it for it's own sake, don't waste your time.