Nursing assistant versus EMT

[DoctorPardi]

Actually it's more like $6 to 8 an hour for EMTs.....but I was responding to ShyRem's comment about what CNA's making more than medics where she is at.....

And also a lot of people DO ALS level paramedicine as a EC.....

As far as your comment on money, you're probably right, I have no idea what emt-b's make. I just wanted to make sure everyone is on the same page that this thread is abou emt-basic vs cna, not paramedic vs cna. There is no comparison to be made between a 2-3 week course about nursing home care and a 2 + year paramedic program.

You're telling me, "a lot" of pre-meds take 2 + years out of college to become paramedics for an EC? While many people who eventually apply to medical school may be paramedics they were very likely not pre-meds deciding to get some cool experience on a 2+ years hiatus from regualr college. I am only talking about the length of time and likelihood of a pre-med becomming a paramedic for medical school. Feel free to educate me on how long it may take one to "DO ALS" level paramedicine.

What this thread is about is what is the better option a one semester course to become an EMT-basic or a several week course on becomming a CNA. No one is considering taking two years off to become a paramedic so they can put it on their amcas.

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[DropkickMurphy]

I am only talking about the length of time and likelihood of a pre-med becomming a paramedic for medical school. Feel free to educate me on how long it may take one to "DO ALS" level paramedicine.

Not counting myself- I'm an EMT-Intermediate who is doing his paramedic course next year while taking other classes as well- I know of no less than four members of this forums who are former or current paramedics, as well as (off the top of my head) six or seven personal friends of mine who are EMT-P's and premed students.

A couple of things to keep in mind.....paramedic courses are not all 2 years long. I have seen courses ranging from 9 months to a little over 2 years. Not everyone cares about the associates degree quite honestly- I know I don't...I'll have two of them when I enroll in my paramedic class so it doesn't really matter to me.

Secondly, you seem to forget that a lot of people who become paramedics do so to become volunteer providers....that is why many paramedic programs offer night and weekend course options. This is just as compatible with premedical studies as it is with a full time job as many people do.

But as you said.....no one is considering doing that 🙄

 

[DoctorPardi]

Not counting myself- I'm an EMT-Intermediate who is doing his paramedic course next year while taking other classes as well- I know of no less than four members of this forums who are former or current paramedics, as well as (off the top of my head) six or seven personal friends of mine who are EMT-P's and premed students.

A couple of things to keep in mind.....paramedic courses are not all 2 years long. I have seen courses ranging from 9 months to a little over 2 years. Not everyone cares about the associates degree quite honestly- I know I don't...I'll have two of them when I enroll in my paramedic class so it doesn't really matter to me.

Secondly, you seem to forget that a lot of people who become paramedics do so to become volunteer providers....that is why many paramedic programs offer night and weekend course options. This is just as compatible with premedical studies as it is with a full time job as many people do.

But as you said.....no one is considering doing that 🙄

Ok so in 9 months you could become a paramedic? If that's the case I might do it lol . I am joking really, but I can see how someone could become a paramedic and do pre-med stuff at the same time. I still think this thread is more focused on emt basic (one semester) vs CNA (1 month). After going through most of a semester of EMT-basic I would actually be interested in getting a paramedic certification but I don't think with work I would have the time even in a 9 month course. Anyway your point is made, I had an uneducated view on the length of time required to become a paramedic and I assumed it was a 2 + year program across the board.

 

[tkim]

Medics where I am make about $9-10/hr. Basics make about $6-7/hr. We're undervalued.

Wow, when I quit three years ago, I was making $22.50/hr. without differential. That's at the 12 year pay scale, though. I have no idea what starting pay is anymore. It *was* $10/hr in '91 in Boston.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Ok so in 9 months you could become a paramedic? If that's the case I might do it lol . I am joking really, but I can see how someone could become a paramedic and do pre-med stuff at the same time. I still think this thread is more focused on emt basic (one semester) vs CNA (1 month). After going through most of a semester of EMT-basic I would actually be interested in getting a paramedic certification but I don't think with work I would have the time even in a 9 month course. Anyway your point is made, I had an uneducated view on the length of time required to become a paramedic and I assumed it was a 2 + year program across the board.

I did the 9 month paramedic course while in undergrad. It was only 2 nights a week. Not only did it work well with my schedule, but my undergrad GPA was actually HIGHER when I was enrolled in the night paramedic course.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Wow, when I quit three years ago, I was making $22.50/hr. without differential. That's at the 12 year pay scale, though. I have no idea what starting pay is anymore. It *was* $10/hr in '91 in Boston.

There isn't a standardized pay for any job across the nation. Pay is highly variable as cost of living is variable. I know that paramedics make much more in New York than Texas, but buying a hot dog in a hot dog stand in New York is probably 4 times the price than in Texas.

 

[DoctorPardi]

There isn't a standardized pay for any job across the nation. Pay is highly variable as cost of living is variable. I know that paramedics make much more in New York than Texas, but buying a hot dog in a hot dog stand in New York is probably 4 times the price than in Texas.

We don't even have hot dog stands in Alabama!

How many clinical hours were associated with your 9 month program? I might actually be interested in doing it (disregard my previous 2-3 posts in this thread lol).

 

[OSUdoc08]

We don't even have hot dog stands in Alabama!

How many clinical hours were associated with your 9 month program? I might actually be interested in doing it (disregard my previous 2-3 posts in this thread lol).

I'm not sure, but they were always during the weekends.

 

[ShyRem]

I also had a 9 month program. We scheduled our own clinical hours, which ended up being about 750-800 hours of clinicals that had to be completed within a 4 1/2 month period. These in addition to the classroom time and any work you were currently doing to survive. I lived in my car. Seriously - I only got home about once every week and a half.