RRT or EMT-p?

[Cmaj7th]

okay so I've completed one semester of pre-reqs for the EMT-p program at my local community college. lately I've been thinking RRT might be a better fit for me and luckily enough the pre-reqs I have taken cover both.

both of these associate degrees transfer completely to two pretty good state schools. RRT to towson university and EMT-p to UMBC if any of you were curious.

now I'm a pre-med though and am not looking to function in these roles indefinitely. just for the remainder of my undergraduate education and for a year or two after. unfortunately my financial situation does not allow me the chance to go the normal pre-med route and I need to be able to start making more money than the lumber department at lowes offers. Im 19 if that matters. I also plan on keeping my GPA competitive as possible and completing most of my pre-reqs for medschool at a university.

RRT pro's:
-the experience seems more applicable (I want to do CCM)
-the pay is better
-I live in the greater baltimore area which is home to several very well known academic centers which could be potential arenas for employment
-possible networking

RRT cons:
-the day to day job seems a little boring
-the curriculum is longer than EMT-p
-the commute to school would be 45 minutes vs 20 for EMT

EMT-p pro's:
-am already enrolled in the school
-can have tuition paid for (but requires continuous volunteering through undergrad and a year of work service after graduation. may be hard to keep grades competitve with extensive volunteering)
-aspects of the job interest me outside of healthcare (ie the mechanical aptitude fire fighters hold)
-autonomy in the field

EMT cons:
-the pay sucks
-educational requirments are lacking (emt-p texts are written at the 11th grade level....)
-experience doesnt seem as applicable. Im sure being a paramedic would help during clinical years but RRT provides a specialized skillset that seems more useful in the wards/units

honestly Id rather do RRT and just volunteer in EMS for s&g. but what do you guys think for a pre-med?

I also can't go to medical school straight after UG because I must make myself financially independent first. thanks

ps. UMBC offers a critical care program for nurses, RRTs, and EMT-ps. not really signicant to this thread but it sounds extremely cool! I'd be looking to complete this program despite any training path I take.

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[pulmonary kid]

As a pre-med RRT I may be pretty biased in my opinion. The majority of my classes for Respiratory Therapy applied to my Human Biology degree, so that is a plus. I also assume that as an RRT I probably have a lot more face time with Doctors and am able to learn a lot from them in the process (which you probably wouldn't get as an EMT).

As far as the pay difference goes, I'm sure that varies from area to area. Where I live EMT's make far less than RT. Make of it what you will, but by maintaining a poor college kid lifestyle after getting my first RT job, Ive been able to pay for my pre-med courses out of pocket.

 

[Cmaj7th]

so would you label your experience as a premed RRT a good one?

 

[pulmonary kid]

so would you label your experience as a premed RRT a good one?

Absolutely. I love what I do and find myself delving further into my work than most RRTs would.

 

[Dwindlin]

The honest truth is ad-coms won't really care all that much what you do. I will say they prefer to hear about volunteer experience vs. work, but either way the most important thing is that your passionate about it, and that it doesn't affect your GPA/MCAT. If you get an interview and they start asking you about it, and your responses seem indifferent they are going to assume you did what ever it is simply to fill slots on an application which isn't a good thing.

Students with medical experience seem very much the minority in medical school classes. Most of my class, and most of the interviewees for next class did things like habitat, food shelters, oversees missions, etc. In my class I am the only one with any clinical experience, and there was only a handful from the interviews that were done this year. So again, it matters very little what you do, so long as you actually enjoy it and are passionate.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.

 

[AegriSomnia]

Do whatever interests you. You seem very interested in respiratory therapy, so you should do that. I will say that being a paramedic will allow you to work more hours and still do very well in school as compared to a RRT. You could do two 24 hour shifts, study at work, and handle a full time course load. I did. As a paramedic you also are involved in the care of some very sick individuals and you can be as involved with the MDs as you want. You just need to make friends and the ED docs are usually very cool people that love EMS people. Hint: bring coffee. Just my 2 cents. Also, where I live the paramedics make more than the RRTs and just about the same as RNs (considering the 48 hour work week.)

 

[ArkansasRanger]

If you think RT fits you better then I think you have your answer. Around here neither medics nor RT get paid well, and I'd say they're on the same plane income-wise.

If you've got time do both, and if you're not a large person think about aero transport if you're not afraid of helicopters. I met a medic once who was EMT-P/RN/RRT. He got his pick of employer and salary.

 

[Cmaj7th]

I know adcoms wont care about which field I picked, I just need to make money. but as it stands I'd like to be an intensivist and I feel like RRT could help me take a peak into that field while I finish school.

but EMS and the fire side seem like a good learning experience outside of healthcare as well. and medical school and residency will teach me all I need to know to be a clinican.

I think I'm just going to try and have my cake and eat it too. since I need volunteer experience anyway Im just going to keep my EMT current and become a vollie firefighter and just have RRT be my major. and with the critical care program at umbc I could look into the flight medic thing after getting some experience. they take RRTs too!

thanks for the insight guys

 

[deleted92121]

I'm an NREMT-P and my father is an RRT. Growing up I would accompany him on home health visits and did so from such a young age that medicine is all I have ever been interested in. But since I am not an RRT, I will give my perspective on being a Paramedic.

Being a paramedic is both the best and the worst thing I have ever done. After starting and experiencing the adrenaline rush, I was hooked. In fact, I quit college to work as a full-time medic. I even started teaching medic class. The scope of practice and relative autonomy is fantastic. Rarely do I need to call medical command for an order (but I am never too proud to call if I need help with treating a patient). You develop very good physical assessment skills and working out basic DDX. We are in no way EDUCATED to the level of MD/DO or PAs but we are highly TRAINED and are capable of excellent patient care. A good medic will be knowledgeable on anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as well as treatment options. You also should have common sense. Knowing when to back away from a 300lb guy on a bender before you get your spinal column snapped is key.

But there are some major drawbacks to working in EMS (note I said working, not volunteering). First, the pay is terrible. I actually make in the top 95% of all paramedics in the country but that is because I work for a private, for-profit company. I worked for a private, 911 non-profit for years but they would not work around my school schedule, but that is another story. Expect your back to hurt, your knees to ache. And when they do, know that the 250lb slug-of-a-woman will expect you to carry her up 20 steps in a stair-chair to her house. And when you reach the top, she will look at you and say "boy, I'm out of breath from all those stairs". Once again common sense here is needed as it will helo you avoid letting the chair roll down the steps with patient attached. Expect to not get out on time ever and to frequently have your relief call off or just not show up. You will get muddy, bloody, urine soaked, vomit covered, cold, hot, and everything in between.

But it is a fun job and one that I am immensely proud of. Sure there are days I am a whiny little b**ch about it but that's part of the job. I would highly recommend becoming a paramedic. Whatever your choice, good luck to you!

DU

 

[njbmd]

In terms of job security, RRT is your choice. Most paramedics work for municipal jurisdictions and face layoffs when the tax revenues drop (like now for instance). There aren't a huge number of jobs if you get laid off as a paramedic. In contrast, as an RRT, you can join a travel company, contract company and cross-train for things like hyperbaric medicine.

 

[Dwindlin]

In terms of job security, RRT is your choice. Most paramedics work for municipal jurisdictions and face layoffs when the tax revenues drop (like now for instance). There aren't a huge number of jobs if you get laid off as a paramedic. In contrast, as an RRT, you can join a travel company, contract company and cross-train for things like hyperbaric medicine.

Actually the opposite is true. There are more private jobs than municipal, and I don't know about the west coast, but midwest/east coast you can't throw a rock without hitting an add for medic openings. Also, if you want to work municipal you will often have to be cross trained in Fire/Rescue, not the case with privates.

 

[malkboy]

I think both EMT-P and RRT provide great avenues into CCM. If you decide to go the paramedic route you would most likely need to go on further in school to pick up a critical care certification (CCEMT-P, CCP-C, or FP-C). Both professions allow for flight/transport teams, but those require some experience, usually 3 years minimum of busy/progressive 911 for any flight job. It seems from your post that you are favoring RRT, which is a good choice, granted that you work in hospital, since you will be spending time where you hope to spending time later albeit as a doc. If you choose the paramedic route you'll be in great shape also, because upstairs care of ICUs is finding its way into the street (mobile intensive care units).

As atkinsje pointed out, either pathway will probably be looked upon equally by ADCOMS and neither will trump GPA/MCAT, but the experience and perspective that you gain in either profession will be priceless.

Remember what your end goal is and good luck!🙂

 

[poresofkohn]

Do whatever interests you. You seem very interested in respiratory therapy, so you should do that. I will say that being a paramedic will allow you to work more hours and still do very well in school as compared to a RRT. You could do two 24 hour shifts, study at work, and handle a full time course load. I did. As a paramedic you also are involved in the care of some very sick individuals and you can be as involved with the MDs as you want. You just need to make friends and the ED docs are usually very cool people that love EMS people. Hint: bring coffee. Just my 2 cents. Also, where I live the paramedics make more than the RRTs and just about the same as RNs (considering the 48 hour work week.)

>
I may be wrong, but I find this very hard to believe. You're in Fla, correct? According to Salary.com the average salary for an EMT-P in Fl is around $34K and for an RRT $55K. FTR: I've always felt that medics were grossly underpaid, which is why I've always volunteered my EMS services.

 

[AegriSomnia]

I'm originally from Boston.

>
I may be wrong, but I find this very hard to believe. You're in Fla, correct? According to Salary.com the average salary for an EMT-P in Fl is around $34K and for an RRT $55K. FTR: I've always felt that medics were grossly underpaid, which is why I've always volunteered my EMS services.

 

[Dwindlin]

>
I may be wrong, but I find this very hard to believe. You're in Fla, correct? According to Salary.com the average salary for an EMT-P in Fl is around $34K and for an RRT $55K. FTR: I've always felt that medics were grossly underpaid, which is why I've always volunteered my EMS services.

It would also vary greatly depending on whether you're FD based or private. In general privates pay much less.

 

[pulmonary kid]

I'm originally from Boston.

My first job offer as an RRT was in Boston. Pay was $32/hr base... Hard for me to believe EMT-Ps were starting off at higher pay....

 

[AegriSomnia]

You have to remember that medics work 48 hour schedules. Yes less per hour but pay check is the same. Plus you spend most of that time napping 😉. The RNs and RRTs obviously have a higher hourly rate but most work 3 12s and work for their money. My ED RN friends pull the same check as the medics. Unless they pull OT.

My first job offer as an RRT was in Boston. Pay was $32/hr base... Hard for me to believe EMT-Ps were starting off at higher pay....

 

[poresofkohn]

You have to remember that medics work 48 hour schedules. Yes less per hour but pay check is the same. Plus you spend most of that time napping 😉. The RNs and RRTs obviously have a higher hourly rate but most work 3 12s and work for their money. My ED RN friends pull the same check as the medics. Unless they pull OT.

>
Big difference my man, getting X amount of dollars for 48hrs Vs. 36hrs is a huge difference. Not to mention night diff (I currently make about $14K annually in diff). I could work like a maniac at both hospitals I'm employed at, and make close to what your pay as an AA will be, but I would never consider myself to be making the same as you.

 

[poresofkohn]

okay so I've completed one semester of pre-reqs for the EMT-p program at my local community college. lately I've been thinking RRT might be a better fit for me and luckily enough the pre-reqs I have taken cover both.

both of these associate degrees transfer completely to two pretty good state schools. RRT to towson university and EMT-p to UMBC if any of you were curious.

now I'm a pre-med though and am not looking to function in these roles indefinitely. just for the remainder of my undergraduate education and for a year or two after. unfortunately my financial situation does not allow me the chance to go the normal pre-med route and I need to be able to start making more money than the lumber department at lowes offers. Im 19 if that matters. I also plan on keeping my GPA competitive as possible and completing most of my pre-reqs for medschool at a university.

RRT pro's:
-the experience seems more applicable (I want to do CCM)
-the pay is better
-I live in the greater baltimore area which is home to several very well known academic centers which could be potential arenas for employment
-possible networking

RRT cons:
-the day to day job seems a little boring
-the curriculum is longer than EMT-p
-the commute to school would be 45 minutes vs 20 for EMT

EMT-p pro's:
-am already enrolled in the school
-can have tuition paid for (but requires continuous volunteering through undergrad and a year of work service after graduation. may be hard to keep grades competitve with extensive volunteering)
-aspects of the job interest me outside of healthcare (ie the mechanical aptitude fire fighters hold)
-autonomy in the field

EMT cons:
-the pay sucks
-educational requirments are lacking (emt-p texts are written at the 11th grade level....)
-experience doesnt seem as applicable. Im sure being a paramedic would help during clinical years but RRT provides a specialized skillset that seems more useful in the wards/units

honestly Id rather do RRT and just volunteer in EMS for s&g. but what do you guys think for a pre-med?

I also can't go to medical school straight after UG because I must make myself financially independent first. thanks

ps. UMBC offers a critical care program for nurses, RRTs, and EMT-ps. not really signicant to this thread but it sounds extremely cool! I'd be looking to complete this program despite any training path I take.

>
If you decide to go the RRT route, perhaps you could volley somewhere and have them finance a medic program for you. The FD I was in would pay for an EMT-P cert (or degree) if you'd been a member for 2 years.

 

[AegriSomnia]

Also big difference in amount of work you do. You work for that 36 hours. I napped, studied, or watched TV for most of that 48.

>
Big difference my man, getting X amount of dollars for 48hrs Vs. 36hrs is a huge difference. Not to mention night diff (I currently make about $14K annually in diff). I could work like a maniac at both hospitals I'm employed at, and make close to what your pay as an AA will be, but I would never consider myself to be making the same as you.

 

[pulmonary kid]

Also big difference in amount of work you do. You work for that 36 hours. I napped, studied, or watched TV for most of that 48.

That varies from department to department... I worked three twelves in a row in L&D last week as an RRT. I watched a total of 7 movies from the Redbox.

But truthfully I think what poresofkohn and I are saying is, it all comes down to $ per hour.


I make more than a lot of mid levels as an RRT if I compare my salary to a PA or NP working 36-40 hours a week. But I "work" 52-55 hours a week. Sometimes 64 hours when I get called in to one of my jobs( which happens at least once a month).

But my 40 hours to their 40 hours, they earn more consistently. and if they worked 55 hours a week like I do, they'd be living the good life.

 

[AegriSomnia]

I do realize that, however, they just don't offer 36 hour schedules as a paramedic on ambulances it's 48 hours or PD for the most part. So I was comparing weekly salaries. If I was to work in a hospital I was offered similar pay to what PoK said above with shift differentials and all (though these were a lower.) I opted not to do that as it was waaay more work and I'd rather spend another 12 hours getting paid to study.

That varies from department to department... I worked three twelves in a row in L&D last week as an RRT. I watched a total of 7 movies from the Redbox.

But truthfully I think what poresofkohn and I are saying is, it all comes down to $ per hour.


I make more than a lot of mid levels as an RRT if I compare my salary to a PA or NP working 36-40 hours a week. But I "work" 52-55 hours a week. Sometimes 64 hours when I get called in to one of my jobs( which happens at least once a month).

But my 40 hours to their 40 hours, they earn more consistently. and if they worked 55 hours a week like I do, they'd be living the good life.