PCA job or no?

[Omppu27]

So I just stopped working as an EMT at a private company a week ago. i worked there for a year. The reason i quit was because the only shift i could work took up my whole sunday and it was making my schedule much more loaded... I also partake in clubs/volunteering (3/4 hr/week), am pretty involved in my research lab(10-15 hr/week), and am in a class that is designing a new volunteer program at our med center (1credit hr, but can take up a to 10hr/week).

The issue i have now is whether or not i should keep working... I recently got offered a job as a PCA at a local hospital. I'm not in need of money, however i am worried that if i i don't put my EMT cert to use it will be looked down upon. The shift for the PCA job isn't much better either (7p-7a, once a week), but i'd just have to sacrifice some sleep which wouldn't be a big issue (i've worked shifts like these before, but not during the school week) but would still load my schedule.

Do you guys think i should tough it out and take the job? Or perhaps look for some sort of volunteer work where i could use my cert and not devote so much time (about few hr/week)? It's tough to find a job as a tech/EMT that offers shifts that aren't 10-12hr long. I'm just worried that i'll never end up using my cert again....

So does sacking up and dealing with the extra busy schedule outweigh not getting another job (and perhaps never using my cert again)?

Thanks to anyone who even read this far. It's much appreciated.

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[Geebeejay]

So I just stopped working as an EMT at a private company a week ago. i worked there for a year. The reason i quit was because the only shift i could work took up my whole sunday and it was making my schedule much more loaded... I also partake in clubs/volunteering (3/4 hr/week), am pretty involved in my research lab(10-15 hr/week), and am in a class that is designing a new volunteer program at our med center (1credit hr, but can take up a to 10hr/week).

The issue i have now is whether or not i should keep working... I recently got offered a job as a PCA at a local hospital. I'm not in need of money, however i am worried that if i i don't put my EMT cert to use it will be looked down upon. The shift for the PCA job isn't much better either (7p-7a, once a week), but i'd just have to sacrifice some sleep which wouldn't be a big issue (i've worked shifts like these before, but not during the school week) but would still load my schedule.

Do you guys think i should tough it out and take the job? Or perhaps look for some sort of volunteer work where i could use my cert and not devote so much time (about few hr/week)? It's tough to find a job as a tech/EMT that offers shifts that aren't 10-12hr long. I'm just worried that i'll never end up using my cert again....

So does sacking up and dealing with the extra busy schedule outweigh not getting another job (and perhaps never using my cert again)?

Thanks to anyone who even read this far. It's much appreciated.

If you took the PCA job, wouldn't you have the exact same problem that the EMT job created? You already used your cert for a year, I don't think taking a break for the sake of your classes will be looked down upon. Just make sure you keep up on your recertification in case you want to start working again in the future.

 

[plumhill]

Being a PCA is good experience, but it is absolutely exhausting, especially at night when you're generally somewhat understaffed. I would not recommend doing an overnight 12-hour shift while a full-time student as a PCA. You'll burn out VERY quickly.

 

[Dmr6186]

I wouldn't do the overnight shift while in school. If anything, just keep looking for a part time position in the day. I work full time as a PCA in the ED and every once in a while I will help out for the night shift. It takes me about 2-3 days to recover from that. I can't imagine having a full time course load and then doing an overnight shift.

I also volunteered as an EMT with certification, but eventually stopped. Most med schools asked why, and I gave my answer to them. It wasn't viewed as a negative thing. Sometimes life happens. As long as you're keeping yourself busy, which it looks like you are, I don't see how not using your certification for the time being will hurt you in the least.

 

[Omppu27]

Being a PCA is good experience, but it is absolutely exhausting, especially at night when you're generally somewhat understaffed. I would not recommend doing an overnight 12-hour shift while a full-time student as a PCA. You'll burn out VERY quickly.

I wouldn't do the overnight shift while in school. If anything, just keep looking for a part time position in the day. I work full time as a PCA in the ED and every once in a while I will help out for the night shift. It takes me about 2-3 days to recover from that. I can't imagine having a full time course load and then doing an overnight shift.

I also volunteered as an EMT with certification, but eventually stopped. Most med schools asked why, and I gave my answer to them. It wasn't viewed as a negative thing. Sometimes life happens. As long as you're keeping yourself busy, which it looks like you are, I don't see how not using your certification for the time being will hurt you in the least.

Wow, i guess i underestimated how tough this can be... Thanks for the info.

I will keep looking for something else during the day time/a little less stressful on the schedule. Perhaps volunteer spots at free clinics or something like that and take vitals, etc.

 

[plumhill]

If you just want clinical experience, free clinics are an awesome place to start, since they usually need volunteers very frequently. You can also look for less-involved hospital jobs.

 

[Omppu27]

If you just want clinical experience, free clinics are an awesome place to start, since they usually need volunteers very frequently. You can also look for less-involved hospital jobs.

Well since i have the cert, i want to get the most out of it that i can. I know over the summer a free clinic near me uses undergrads to take vitals, etc. There are also mobile free clinics near me that use EMTs to help with triage.

Here's a link for one of the mobile free clinics i'm talking about. it's not in my home state, but it is pretty near by. i know of people from my school who have gone. http://www.ramusa.org/

 

[plumhill]

Well since i have the cert, i want to get the most out of it that i can. I know over the summer a free clinic near me uses undergrads to take vitals, etc. There are also mobile free clinics near me that use EMTs to help with triage.

Here's a link for one of the mobile free clinics i'm talking about. it's not in my home state, but it is pretty near by. i know of people from my school who have gone. http://www.ramusa.org/

That is understandable...maybe having the certification will allow you to have a more active role with the clinics? You can also look to volunteer for certain larger one-time events (such as marathons, concerts, sporting events, etc), where your certification will be very useful, but won't have the rigorous time commitment. But don't worry about what adcoms will think if you don't utilize your cert at all times. One year in and of itself is a very respectable time commitment.

 

[Skull Pell]

Wouldn't hurt to try if you really have the drive. You'll get to see the difference between pre-hospital care, and an actual hands on direct pt contact in an acute setting inside the hospital (as you may already have known).

It's doable but exhausting..I work 2 12hr night shifts during the weekend while taking 17 credits during the weekdays, 9hrs research/week and maintaining a club sport.

One big plus is that you'll get to know the docs and eventually shadow them. Networking brah

 

[jsak]

I got my EMT cert and volunteered in clinics that served the underprivileged and I was fine

 

[Omppu27]

Wouldn't hurt to try if you really have the drive. You'll get to see the difference between pre-hospital care, and an actual hands on direct pt contact in an acute setting inside the hospital (as you may already have known).

It's doable but exhausting..I work 2 12hr night shifts during the weekend while taking 17 credits during the weekdays, 9hrs research/week and maintaining a club sport.

One big plus is that you'll get to know the docs and eventually shadow them. Networking brah

Hospital experience was a major reason why i was looking for a PCA job. i actually tried to get PCA jobs before i got my first job at the private company, but most/all hospitals need atleast a year of emt/pt. experience before working. However, i have definitely gotten hands on ex. through my emt gig...

With regards to the shadowing, that is something i was really hoping to get out of it. It's obviously something i can take care of without working as a PCA, but it would've been nice since i would already know the docs and stuff... Props to you though on putting in that work 👍

As of now i think i'm going to try to get involved in the free clinics and occasional events (sports events, marathons, mobile free clinics, etc.). Perhaps i can try to get another less demanding job in a hospital as well like another poster mentioned.

 

[Omppu27]

I got my EMT cert and volunteered in clinics that served the underprivileged and I was fine

Nice. This is exactly what i'll try to take on. I'm already doing a little volunteer work at a free clinic so i'm gonna try to get in with them. The RAM link i posted a few posts before also offers good positions for EMTs