Many premedical students consider EMT training and certification because it can provide excellent clinical experience and patient interactions. Could it be the right fit for you?
There are a lot of benefits that medical school admissions committees view favorably.
After certification, you will want to consider paid versus volunteer opportunities. Paid employment generally takes shift structures. Volunteer work is more flexible. If you consider paid employment, you will want to look for emergency response or ambulatory work, rather than interfacility transfers. Emergency work will provide you with the most opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences. To understand the opportunities available, check with your local EMS agency, fire departments or hospitals.
Head over to our blog to read the final part of our discussion on what questions you should ask yourself to determine if EMT training is the right fit for you.
Is it the right fit?
There are a lot of benefits that medical school admissions committees view favorably.
- As an EMT, you will develop your leadership skills and understanding of some of the work and challenges physicians may face.
- You will gain foundational medical knowledge and clinical experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between your undergraduate and medical studies. In a recent study at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, which added EMT certification into the first-year curriculum, most students agreed that the certification eased the transition into medical school (82 percent) and “increased awareness of patient’s lives and circumstances” (91 percent).
- You will hone your ability to stay calm and clear-headed under duress, which will certainly benefit you as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.
After certification, you will want to consider paid versus volunteer opportunities. Paid employment generally takes shift structures. Volunteer work is more flexible. If you consider paid employment, you will want to look for emergency response or ambulatory work, rather than interfacility transfers. Emergency work will provide you with the most opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences. To understand the opportunities available, check with your local EMS agency, fire departments or hospitals.
Head over to our blog to read the final part of our discussion on what questions you should ask yourself to determine if EMT training is the right fit for you.
Is it the right fit?
